Serena Williams surprises fans with a tender and personal family moment
Serena Williams returned to Instagram showing her closest, most personal side, proving that even though she no longer steps on the court, her life remains marked by the strength and passion that always defined her as an athlete.
The post offers a brief look back at her sister Venus Williams’ wedding, where Serena appeared in a bridal dress alongside her daughters and her husband, a memory that previously sparked comments and some controversy among followers of both sisters. Now, without any controversy, Serena shares these moments from an intimate, family-centered perspective.
In the caption, she wrote: “Joy does not always roar; sometimes it whispers. It’s important to savor those sweet moments… I love this picture so I wanted to share it with you.” With this, she made it clear that speculations about who takes the spotlight are irrelevant, and what truly matters are family moments and shared happiness.
A challenge even greater than tennis
Even off the court, Serena remains focused on new personal challenges, from raising her daughters to teaching them healthy habits like eating vegetables, showing that her discipline and consistency also carry over into daily family life.
These small details remind us that even though Serena has closed her sports career, she continues to display her strength and authenticity naturally, creating a close connection with her followers and showing that life can shine in its own way, beyond what anyone might say.
And yet, despite that immeasurable pressure to emulate arguably the greatest female tennis player of all time, Coco Gauff has responded to such claims with grace and intelligence.
Coco Gauff explains why Serena Williams is the GOAT
Speaking back in 2022 to the National Bank Open, Gauff was keen to reemphasise her point about Williams being the greatest.
This is not a controversial opinion, but it is interesting to see how it is justified, given that it can be argued.
The young American offered a rather staunch defence though, noting: “What makes her the GOAT is her personality and all that she’s done off the court to fight for equality, to fight for young players like me and continue to lead in the way that she does and I think that’s what we really should be focused on.
“That’s just Serena. I don’t think there will be anyone who can do what she did, with all the adversity that she had to face, I don’t think there will be another player that will do that.”
“She’s the GOAT. And undisputed too. In my opinion. But I don’t think that’s an opinion, it’s a fact.
“Serena for me is the GOAT. The GOAT of all GOATs. There will never be another Serena.”
What has Serena Williams said about Coco Gauff in the past?
Serena has also expressed her pride in Gauff’s career thus far too, outlining the immense mutual respect shared between these superstars.
In fact, whenever asked about the youngster, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is always keen to sing her praises.
Even after she beat Venus Williams, her sister, in her famous breakthrough run at Wimbledon in 2019, Serena admitted: “She’s just impressive all around, from her personality to the way she plays. I think it’s just all super impressive.
“I was nowhere near her level at 15 either on the court or off the court, not even close. I know kids are growing up different nowadays, so I’m not sure. But I was nowhere near as smart and eloquent as she is. It’s nice to see.”
Gauff has been praised for doing one thing better than any player since Serena, almost validating the comparisons. It remains to be seen how this will play out over the next decade or two.
It was the fall of 2022 when fans last saw Serena Williams competing on the courts of Flushing Meadows.
After that US Open run, the 23-time Grand Slam champion avoided using the word “retirement,” instead saying she was “evolving away” from the sport. Ever since, fans have been hoping to see her step back onto the court one more time. Now, adding his voice to that chorus is none other than her former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.
On December 26, Patrick Mouratoglou shared his 2026 wishlist. As he spoke about everything he hopes for in 2026, one wish clearly stole the spotlight. Mouratoglou expressed his desire to see Serena Williams return to competitive tennis.
Pointing to her recent training videos, he said, “I would love to see in 2026, a comeback from Serena. Why not? We’ve all seen the footage of Serena ripped. She is ready physically. She’s worked hard. She looks so fit, so ready. She loves tennis.”
Mouratoglou can relate: “She posted video of herself playing tennis. I would love to see if she can compete at the age she has, without playing one single tournament for three years, giving birth for a second time,” he continued.
With Williams posting photos and videos of herself on Instagram, showing off her workouts and gains, many fans were left wondering if these were early clues for a return.
“Can she compete with the best? Because she’s Serena; she’s the best of all time. What is her level? I would love to see that. And I know I’m not the only one,” Mouratoglou added.
With her former coach openly believing a Serena Williams comeback is possible, the bigger question is, does Serena Williams herself still have the desire to return at this stage of her career?
Serena Williams breaks silence on her comeback
Speculation around a possible Serena Williams comeback began in September, when she filed paperwork with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The filing exempted her from strict whereabouts requirements, a move that immediately caught fans’ attention and fueled fresh theories about a potential return to professional tennis.
Under ITIA and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, any player considering a comeback must first comply with out-of-competition testing regulations.
This means being available for drug testing for at least six months before entering a tournament. Williams’ name later appeared on the ITIA’s Registered Testing Pool list dated October 6, further intensifying the discussion.
Soon after the news broke, Williams took to X, posting, “Omg, y’all, I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” though her denial has done little to quell fans’ imaginations.
ITIA spokesperson Adrian Bassett confirmed that Williams had requested reinstatement into the testing pool but clarified that it wasn’t a sure sign for a return. “I do not know if this means she is coming back, or just giving herself the option. All I can say is she’s back in the pool and therefore subject to whereabouts,” said Bassett.
The Registered Testing Pool is made up of top singles players, notable doubles and wheelchair athletes, as well as players returning after long absences. So now, while a Serena Williams comeback would undoubtedly excite the tennis world, the final decision ultimately rests with her.
Serena Williams has one word top of mind when it comes to health – longevity.
The 44-year-old tennis star opened up about her experience with GLP-1 medications in August after partnering with healthcare company Ro. She’s also teamed up with Lingo by Abbott, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that tracks glucose in your interstitial fluids.
After she stopped playing tennis, she became obsessed with healthy eating and living. She’s used Lingo since its U.S. launch in September 2024, and tracking her health data has empowered her to make more informed food choices and leave the word “diet” behind.
More than 80% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it, as it often has no symptoms. However, it’s very common. More than 1 in 3 U.S. adults have prediabetes. While it’s possible to reverse prediabetes, it’s typically not possible to reverse diabetes complications, making prevention and proper management essential.
It’s an issue that hits close to home for Williams, who has a family history of diabetes. Lingo’s mission is to help people understand how their body reacts to different dietary choices, which sometimes can reveal early signs worth paying attention to.
CGMs for non-diabetics have picked up steam as a new wellness trend, but not everyone in the health field is so bullish on their prospects for everyone. But Williams says preventative health is all about finding balance, even if she falls closer to one end of the spectrum.
“Who am I kidding? I’m not balanced. I’m definitely an extremist,” Williams says over the phone from Florida. “But I also want what’s best for myself, and I think other people do too.”
She shares two children − Olympia, 7, and Adira, 2 − with husband Alexis Ohanian (an investor in Ro), for whom she wants to stay as healthy as possible.
“Who doesn’t want longevity? Because that’s what it all boils down to,” she adds.
What are CGMs?
CGMs are small sensors placed under the skin of your arm that send data to your smartphone and offer insights on your blood sugar levels. It’s a tool diabetics may use, and it can even connect to an insulin pump (Lingo is not used for managing diseases, including diabetes, and cannot connect to an insulin pump).
Some nutrition experts say a CGM can be valuable for non-diabetics by encouraging them to choose healthier foods and stave off chronic disease. However, some people with diabetes feel this wellness trend trivializes their experience, especially since many patients can’t access these lifesaving devices due to the cost.
Dr. Robert Shmerling, senior faculty editor of Harvard Health Publishing at Harvard Medical School, previously told USA TODAY he thinks continuous glucose monitoring is marketing getting ahead of the science. If you aren’t diabetic, for example, he says the research doesn’t support CGMs as effective.
But people who use CGMs – like Williams – may still find them valuable. Some non-diabetic CGM users have even discovered they were experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, helping them get proper care sooner.
How GLP-1s and Lingo fit into Williams’ big picture of health
When announcing her partnership with Ro, Williams shared that she lost 31 pounds on the GLP-1 drug Zepbound, a type of medication typically prescribed for diabetes and now also used for weight management.
“My story with Ro and GLP-1s, I did everything to get healthy, and I wasn’t getting there,” she explains. She considers fad diets a thing of the past, given the technology people now have access to.
“I think fad diets were great because that’s all we had back then,” she says. “Everyone was still trying to be healthy and trying their best. But this (Lingo) is something that actually works. You can make real-time decisions.” The Lingo app will even send her reminders to take a walk or do 10 squats.
She feels better than ever on GLP-1s and says using Lingo has been a good contributor to monitoring her health throughout this journey.
“There are positives and negatives to all types of things, and you have to decide if that’s what you want,” she says.
‘My life has been health’
With 23 Grand Slam titles, Williams spent her life optimizing her performance. And while she’s carried that mentality into motherhood, part of her focus has shifted to her kids’ nutrition.
“As an athlete, health is our life,” she says. “And even more so as a mom, I really watch how I prepare food.”
Williams cooks for her children five to six days a week, and wants to pass down healthy eating habits.
“Lingo has really helped me understand what I’m eating,” she adds. “I just take that education, just throughout my life, and transfer it to things I’m learning for my kids.”
Serena Williams set for tennis comeback? Rumors swirl as she teases coming out of retirement
Serena Williams may be inching closer to one of the most dramatic comebacks in tennis history.
Although officially listed as retired since 2022, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has reappeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP), a list reserved for players who could potentially return to competition.
Under ITIA guidelines, athletes must undergo six months of testing before they can enter sanctioned events-fueling speculation that Williams may be preparing for a comeback as early as 2026 or 2027.
Her re-entry into the testing pool is one of the strongest indicators yet that the door to her career may not be fully closed. Despite stepping back from the sport, Williams has consistently hinted that she never viewed her departure as final.
Her presence on the IRTP list, combined with her previous comments, suggests she has kept the possibility of returning very much alive.
Is Serena Williams coming back to tennis?
This isn’t the first time Williams has teased the idea of reclaiming her place on the WTA Tour.
At a TechCrunch Disrupt event in San Francisco in 2022, she openly rejected the idea that she was truly retired.
There, she explained that she still trains on her home court and had recently experienced what it felt like to hit balls without preparing for a tournament-a feeling she described as both “strange” and “freeing”.
In the years since stepping away, the 44-year-old has focused on family, entrepreneurship, and personal wellness.
Williams has also devoted significant effort to rebuilding her fitness, shedding nearly 17 kilograms this year-another detail adding fuel to the comeback rumors.
Her potential return has not gone unnoticed within the tennis world. Novak Djokovic, still playing at an elite level on the ATP Tour at age 38, recently offered a playful but sincere invitation for Williams to rejoin the circuit.
After his first-round win at the US Open, Djokovic, knowing her competitive nature rarely turns down a dare, challenged her to make a comeback.
His comments came after he watched Williams introduce longtime rival Maria Sharapova at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a moment he described as both gracious and memorable.
Meanwhile, the Williams legacy continues on tour through her sister.
Venus Williams remains active on the WTA circuit and reached the quarterfinals of the US Open doubles draw this year alongside Leylah Fernandez.
For now, Serena has offered no formal statement about her future. She has been spotted attending major matches throughout the season, keeping her connection to the sport alive.
Whether her name on the IRTP is a procedural formality or a hint of something bigger remains to be seen, but fans have more reason than ever to hope that one of the game’s greatest champions could step onto the court again.
What Bill Clinton told Serena Williams after winning her first Grand Slam at the US Open
In 1999, Serena Williams burst onto the tennis scene after winning her maiden Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.
Serena, seeded seventh at the event, defeated Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport on her way to the final in New York. There, she defeated Swiss legend Martina Hingis 6-3, 7-6.
At just 17 years old, Serena became the first player from the Williams family to win a Grand Slam singles title.
This moment represented the start of a glorious career, one that saw Serena win 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 major doubles titles, and three Olympic gold medals.
Serena, who also won the 1999 US Open Women’s doubles event alongside Venus, received a call from the US president after winning the singles title.
Bill Clinton told Serena Williams he was rooting for her
After defeating Hingis, Serena received a call from then US President Bill Clinton, who remained in the position until 2001.
It is fair to say that Serena was most definitely excited to receive the call from the President.
She told reporters: “It was very exciting. I thought for sure my day couldn’t get any better. Next thing I knew, someone was telling me, “The President of the United States wants to talk.” I was thinking, “Wow.”
Serena was then asked to reflect upon what the call may mean for women’s tennis, as it had ‘never happened’ before.
Carlos Alcaraz fires a warning to Jannik Sinner after losing ATP Finals showdown in Turin
Carlos Alcaraz sent out a clear message to his big rival Jannik Sinner after he came up short in a thrilling championship match at the ATP Finals in Turin.
Sinner extended his unbeaten record on indoor courts to a staggering 31 matches as he recorded at 7-6(4), 7-5 win against Alcaraz, with a hamstring problem sustained by the Spaniard in the first set hampering his ambitions in front of a passionate Italian crowd.
The roars to toast the victory for local hero Sinner from the Turin fans were raucous, but Alcaraz is already turning his thoughts to 2026 as he suggested he ‘will be ready’ for the next battle with his big rival, as their friendly rivalry was tested by a feisty comment from Alcaraz.
“I’m just really happy with the level that I played today, with the performance,” said Alcaraz. “I mean, I just played against someone that haven’t lost a match on an indoor court for two years now.
“A well deserved trophy. It is a great year for you. You know, it’s time to rest. Hope you are going to be ready for next year, because I will be ready.
“Hopefully we will play more finals against each other. It’s been a really long year, a really great achievement, and really great level through the whole year.
“It wasn’t to be to win this final, but I just want to let you know that I’m going to leave the court with the head really high. I left everything.”
Congratulations for the trophy and for the season @janniksin and team! 👏🏻 I hope to come back next year and fight for this title! 😍 Grazie a tutti! ❤️
Alcaraz was a point away from winning a very tight first set and Sinner admitted he had been pushed all the way by the one player who seems capable of taking him out of his comfort zone.
“It was a very, very tough and close match-up,” reflected Sinner. “I was set point down in the first set, but I’m extremely happy how I handled the situation. It means the world to me.
“It was tough. Playing against Carlos, you have to play at your best. I was serving very well at times. He is one of the best returners, if not the best returner in the game. I’m very happy.
“It was a very tough match, but it means a lot to me, ending the season like this. It’s amazing.”
Sinner also spoke to Sky Sports Tennis, as he revealed the emotion of winning on home soil meant so much to him.
“It has been an incredible season,” he said, before he appeared to reference his drug ban that took out three months of his 2025 season. “There were difficult moments for various reasons and finishing the season in Turin with the home crowd against my biggest rival was amazing.
“For sure, this week ranks very, very high. I used to not serve like this in the big moments. We want this shot to be more consistent and we worked hard on this. Finishing the season like this, it means a lot to me.”
Sinner will now have a brief break before he set his sights on trying to defend his Australian Open title in January, where another Grand Slam meeting with Alcaraz may be on his agenda.
Aryna Sabalenka Shatters Serena Williams’ Prize Money Record With Staggering $15 Million 2025 Haul
Aryna Sabalenka has rewritten history. Even after finishing runner-up to Elena Rybakina at the 2025 WTA Finals, the Belarusian ended her season by surpassing Serena Williams’ long-standing record for the highest single-season prize money in women’s tennis. Sabalenka’s earnings reached a remarkable $15 million, eclipsing the $12.38 million Williams made during her dominant 2013 season. The record-breaking year not only reaffirmed Sabalenka’s dominance but also propelled her to second place on the all-time WTA prize money list with $45.17 million.
Aryna Sabalenka has overtaken Serena Williams for the most prize money won in a single season 💰
Sabalenka’s Climb Up the All-Time Prize Money List
Sabalenka’s 2025 campaign was one of the most consistent in recent memory. Her final loss in the WTA Finals did little to overshadow a year in which she won multiple titles, including a major, and stayed perched at world No. 1. The $2.69 million she earned for finishing second in Riyadh pushed her season total past the $15 million mark, a figure never before reached by a woman on the tour.
Her latest feat saw her leapfrog both Venus Williams and Iga Swiatek on the all-time earnings list, climbing from fourth to second within a month. She now trails only Serena Williams, whose unmatched $94.81 million remains the benchmark in women’s tennis. Sabalenka’s run this year further widened the gap between her and the chasing pack, with Iga Swiatek the closest active competitor at $43.64 million after earning $10.11 million in 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka closed out a record-breaking WTA season with $15 million in earnings, surpassing Serena Williams' 2013 mark.
She's also set to compete against Nick Kyrgios in the Battle of the Sexes: Dubai Showdown on Dec. 28.
The top five all-time WTA prize money leaders now feature Serena Williams ($94.81 million), Sabalenka ($45.17 million), Swiatek ($43.64 million), Venus Williams ($42.86 million), and Simona Halep ($40.23 million). Below is the table for all-time prize money leaders so far:
#
Player
Active/Not Active
Prize Money (All-Time)
1
Serena Williams
Not Active
$94,816,730
2
Aryna Sabalenka
Active
$45,175,621
3
Iga Swiatek
Active
$43,640,490
4
Venus Williams
Not Active
$42,867,364
5
Simona Halep
Not Active
$40,236,618
6
Victoria Azarenka
Active
$38,890,473
7
Maria Sharapova
Not Active
$38,777,962
8
Petra Kvitova
Not Active
$37,653,615
9
Caroline Wozniacki
Active
$36,479,231
10
Angelique Kerber
Active
$32,545,460
11
Coco Gauff
Active
$29,759,121
12
Agnieszka Radwanska
Not Active
$27,683,807
13
Elina Svitolina
Active
$26,657,071
14
Karolína Pliskova
Active
$26,140,530
15
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Not Active
$25,816,890
So basically, even without the WTA Finals crown, Sabalenka’s season will be remembered as one that shattered boundaries, both on court and in the record books.
Novak Djokovic reached his first ATP semi-final in February 2006 in Zagreb, falling to Ivan Ljubicic in three tight sets.
Nearly two decades later, the 38-year-old is still capable of reaching the latter stages on the highest level.
Novak defeated two rivals at this week’s ATP 250 event in Athens, having advanced to his eighth ATP semi-final of the season. Thus, the legend now stands on 199 ATP semi-finals, moving one away from another incredible milestone.
Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer are the only players with 200 ATP semi-finals in the Open era, with Djokovic looking good to join them at the end of 2025 or the beginning of the new season.
Federer stands on 211, and the Serb will have a chance to pass him if he remains this consistency in 2026 and 2027. Novak has stopped the clock this season after reaching six notable semi-finals.
The Belgrade native made an incredible run at Majors, reaching all four semi-finals and writing history books. Alongside, he also competed in the last four at the Miami Masters and in Shanghai.
Djokovic suffered a couple of early losses, and without them, he could have already been on 200. However, the milestone will come sooner rather than later. Novak skipped the Paris Masters and prepared for the ATP 250 event in Athens.
The veteran defeated Alejandro Tabilo 7-6, 6-1 in the first round, besting the Chilean for the first time in a career after two losses on clay. Djokovic prevailed in the opener after over an hour and secured a double break in the second set to advance.
Novak chased his 199th ATP semi-final against Nuno Borges and delivered a hard-fought 7-6, 6-4 victory. As in the first match, the Serb had to dig deep in the opening set. He played a flawless tie break to gain the advantage.
Novak secured a single break in the second set and served well to book a place in the last four, remaining on the course toward his 101st ATP title.
Grand Slam legend warns Coco Gauff winning ugly could backfire in big Slam match
Rennae Stubbs declares Coco Gauff “the ultimate player of winning ugly” and she is giving credit to the American for having that ability, but also warns the 21-year-old that it could backfire on the latter stages of a Grand Slam tournament.
At the start of the Asian swing, Gauff was evidently far from her best game, but she still made the Beijing semifinal after surviving a couple of tight encounters. That was before Amanda Anisimova thrashed her 6-1 6-2. In Wuhan, the American experienced certain issues on her serve, but still lifted the title at the Chinese WTA 1000 tournament.
Results-wise, Gauff did extremely well in back-to-back WTA 1000 tournaments in China. However, Stubbs – a former six-time Grand Slam champion in doubles – didn’t appear to be too convinced by what she saw from the two-time Grand Slam winner.
“She is the ultimate player of winning ugly,” Stubbs said on her podcast.
Stubbs: Will it hurt Gauff in a big Grand Slam match?
Gauff’s serve and forehand have been long ago identified as the two weaknesses in her game. In September, the American addressed the serving aspect by hiring biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan.
“How many players in the top 10 are going ‘I hope I can hit that shot in the court today?’ and that is Coco. There were times she was double-faulting again. That was in the semis and in the final, but she just keeps going. She is built different. I give her tons of credit, I love her. I don’t know if it’s the right thing because at some point again, in a big match at the majors, is it going to hurt her though? That she hasn’t worked on those things enough,” Stubbs explained.
To Gauff’s defense, she has repeated several times over the last two months that her main priority for the rest of 2025 is to improve her game rather than chase the results.
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