Novak Djokovic and Jessica Pegula have both hinted they expect Serena Williams back on tour, and Wimbledon keeps coming up as the likely stage for her return.
The chatter erupted at Indian Wells where Djokovic spoke during his pre-tournament press conference and Pegula offered her thoughts to Access Hollywood, while Serena quietly completed the paperwork that would make any comeback possible.
Djokovic teases Serena’s return
At the BNP Paribas Open Djokovic, who is the No. 3 seed at Indian Wells, treated Serena’s potential comeback like a sequel everyone is waiting for and declined to nail down dates while making clear the tour would love it.
Everybody is excited, and it’s definitely something that’s very highly anticipated. So, you know, let’s see.
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic’s line captured the mood perfectly: players, fans and broadcasters are already imagining the draw implications and television ratings spike if Serena opts to re-enter singles or even pop up in doubles.
Serena has taken concrete steps toward eligibility by re-entering the WADA testing pool and was officially able to compete as of February, but she has not announced a timetable and continues to keep plans private.
Pegula pins Wimbledon as the likely starting point
Jessica Pegula told Access Hollywood that locker-room chatter is real and that Williams is keeping everyone guessing, and she did not rule out a Wimbledon return while suggesting grass could be the right place to restart.
“There has been,” Pegula replied when asked about talk in the WTA locker room, and she added, “No-one really knows. She’s keeping us on our toes, which isn’t a surprise because it’s Serena.”
Pegula also referenced fresh footage of Serena hitting, saying, “I just saw a video, like yesterday, of her hitting with another player, and I kind of feel like she’s thinking about coming back.” That practice clip sharpened speculation.
On formats Pegula floated a sensible, low-risk route: “I could definitely see her maybe playing doubles with Venus, because Venus is still playing. I don’t know if she will play singles, but maybe working her way back to singles possibly more in the US swing leading up to the US Open.”
Part of the Wimbledon talk is history; Serena left the All England Club stung by an opening loss to Harmony Tan in her last Wimbledon outing and might welcome a grass-court shot at redemption this summer.
What a comeback would mean for the tour
Beyond headlines and ticket sales, a Serena return would reshape draws and storylines, giving players both a blockbuster opponent and a once-in-a-generation headline act to chase across the calendar and on grass especially.
There is also the personal subplot: Pegula and Serena have met just once, in the 2020 ASB Classic final in Auckland, where Williams won 6-3, 6-4, a match that turned out to be Williams’ last title and last final before stepping away.
Practical hurdles remain: match fitness, scheduling, and the desire for privacy about any comeback. Re-entering the testing pool only clears the administrative bar; it does not guarantee form or comfort under the grand-slam microscope.
Still, when two of the tour’s most prominent voices suggest Wimbledon as a relaunch point, the rumor mill speeds up and broadcasters start penciling Serena into potential draws whether she confirms anything or not.
For now Indian Wells acts like a running backstop to the rumor: Djokovic and Pegula’s remarks feed the headlines, Serena’s actions feed the possibility, and the rest of the tour waits to see if practice sessions turn into a return to competition.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
