Novak Djokovic: ‘Everybody is excited’ about Serena Williams’ potential return
INDIAN WELLS, California — Even Novak Djokovic can not help however get excited about Serena Williams‘ heavily speculated return to tennis.
Speaking to the media Wednesday on the BNP Paribas Open, the 24-time main champion was requested about Williams, the 23-time main champion, having cleared doping protocols and thus paving the way in which for a potential comeback.
“I think she’s coming back,” Djokovic mentioned. “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to her, but I guess the feeling is that she’s coming back. Where and how, singles, doubles, we don’t know, and if I’m in her position, I would hide it too.
“Yeah, everybody is excited, and it is undoubtedly one thing that is very extremely anticipated. So, you realize, let’s examine.”
When pressed further, Djokovic said he thought Wimbledon — a tournament in which both Williams and Djokovic have won seven times — would be a great potential site to officially make his return. But he added that she “would possibly possibly play a doubles event or two with Venus” first.
“That can be good to see, simply from my viewpoint and tennis followers, for certain,” Djokovic, 38, said. “Yeah, and [Serena is] one of many biggest athletes, actually. It can be nice to have her again too.”
Williams retired — or, in her phrases, was “evolving away” — from tennis following the 2022 US Open to continue expanding her family. She welcomed her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian the following year.
In recent years, the 44-year-old has been seen publicly cheering on Venus, her older sister, as she continues to play professionally. Venus in turn has spoken openly about her desire for Serena — who wrote “PS I hope to be such as you” in an admiration post to Venus after her first-round exit at the US Open in August — to still play.
Williams returned to the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) registered testing pool in the fall, and news about her re-entry broke in early December. By doing so, she would have to provide her whereabouts at any given time, every day and participate in random testing for six months before being officially reinstated.
She denied that she was returning on the time — posting on X: “Omg yall I’m NOT coming again” — however her responses to such questions have softened lately. Earlier this week, present world No. 96 Alicia Parks posted a video of herself hitting with Williams, fueling much more hypothesis.
Williams was formally reinstated on the finish of final month. She hasn’t offered any additional info about whether or not or when she would possibly play once more — however that will not cease tennis followers, together with fellow GOATs corresponding to Djokovic, from getting enthusiastic about the chance.
