Serena Williams is gearing up for a return to singles tennis in 2027, using her participation in the women’s doubles event at the 2026 U.S. Open alongside her sister Venus as preparation. Despite their first-round loss, the doubles matches are helping Serena regain match fitness and court movement. ESPN analyst Caroline Wozniacki noted that Serena’s focus is on getting fully healthy and ready for a singles comeback rather than immediate competition at the Open.

Williams, 44, has made it clear in recent interviews that she likely will play singles again, aiming for a return that coincides with the next season, possibly starting at the 2027 Australian Open. This follows her comeback attempt at Wimbledon in 2026 after a four-year break, where she lost in the opening round and withdrew from doubles due to a knee injury. She emphasized the importance of recovering fully to avoid impacting other players’ opportunities with wild cards if not fit to compete at her best.

Aside from her competitive ambitions, Serena has personal motivations to continue playing tennis at an older age, including inspiring her two young daughters, Olympia and Adira. While she doesn’t view this return as permanent, she wants to demonstrate to her children that athletes can perform at a high level later in life. Her enormous success includes 23 Grand Slam singles titles, with career highlights like seven Australian Open wins and six U.S. Open trophies.

Financially, Serena maintains her status as the world’s richest woman to primarily earn her fortune through sports, with Forbes estimating her net worth at $400 million. Her presence at the U.S. Open also drew attention from fellow competitors, including men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz, who expressed excitement to watch and support her during the tournament. The Williams sisters’ continuing involvement in tennis remains a major draw for fans and adds to Serena’s enduring legacy.