LONDON — Serena Williams is in discussions about a potential return to competitive tennis at the Queen's Club WTA 500 event in June 2026. The tournament begins on 8 June 2026, and Williams has been eligible to compete since 22 February 2026 after completing six months in the drug testing pool.

Williams last played competitively in the 2022 US Open, where she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. She has not competed on tour since then but has remained active in fitness and public life. In a January 2026 interview, Williams said she was “going to see what happens.”

The Served podcast claimed Williams would play doubles with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko at Queen's Club, though BBC Sport has not confirmed that report. Two doubles wildcards are available for the tournament, with one reserved for a team including a former world number one, a Grand Slam champion from the past 10 years, or a current top-30 player—criteria Williams meets as a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion.

Williams said in a 2025 interview that she lost 31 pounds (14 kg) over the previous eight months. She said she viewed her extra weight as “an opponent” and trained five hours a day, including running, walking, biking, and stair climbing. She added she was training for a half-marathon and “running farther than I ever had.”

Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Scott Lloyd said wildcard opportunities at domestic events are “afforded to British players” as a “fundamental personal belief and philosophy.” Lloyd acknowledged there might be “exceptional circumstances” that could justify a unique wildcard. LTA performance director Michael Bourne said players must “earn that right” to wildcards and that commercial considerations could influence decisions if player depth is insufficient.

Williams said in 2022 that she preferred to say she was “evolving away” from tennis rather than retiring. Her sister Venus Williams has played intermittently on the WTA Tour in recent years and reached the US Open women's doubles quarter-finals in 2025.