Serena Williams: Top American player eligible to return on February 22

Serena Williams will be eligible to return to tennis from Sunday, February 22, but it is unclear whether the American great will return.

Williams’ name appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) re-list on Monday, meaning she can participate in tournaments from the specified date, the organization confirmed to BBC Sport.

However, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has not officially announced her return after ending her US Open career in 2022.

BBC Sport has contacted Williams’ agent and the Women’s Tennis Association for comment.

Retired players can be reinstated and return to banned events once they have made themselves available for out-of-competition drug testing for at least six months.

In December, ITIA confirmed to BBC Sport that Williams had returned to the list of players registered for a drug testing pool.

Once a player enters the pool, they must let testers know where they are for one hour each day.

Hours later, Williams, 44, posted on social media: “I’m not coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”

She then refused to rule out a return at the end of January, telling the Today Show: “I don’t know, I’ll just see what happens.”