All it takes is one spark. Yes, that’s exactly what happened a couple of days ago. The moment Serena Williams’ name resurfaced in the ITIA’s Registered Testing Pool, fans leaped the most dramatic conclusion possible - comeback. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t swung a racket in competition since her emotional farewell at the 2022 US Open. It didn’t matter that she had repeatedly spoken about embracing post-tennis life. One update on the ITIA list was enough to send social media spiraling into chaos.

Memes flew. Debates erupted. And timelines turned into a full-blown Serena-watch. But just as quickly as the storm gathered, Serena tried to quiet it. “Omg, yall I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy -” she posted on X, trying to douse the flames of speculation that had already jumped several fences. Except… the wildfire wasn’t quite ready to die. Not when Rick Macci - the man who first saw Serena and Venus tearing up old practice courts in Compton, the coach who helped shape the sisters into legends - chimed in with his trademark blend of optimism and insider intuition. 

“Asked if Serena will play again. Singles maybe but dubs with Vee for sure. She  entered the ITIA REGISTERED TESTING POOL a possible sign that the Compton Comet might tee it up in 2026. If she plays it would be must see tv to watch her and Vee. @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams,” Macci tweeted.

Rick Macci has spent decades reading Serena Williams’ competitive energy like a book. He spotted her fire before she won a Grand Slam, before she became a global icon, before the world even knew her name. So when Macci speaks about Serena, fans listen - whether they want to or not. And this time, he added a new twist to the saga.

But let me tell you that even her elder sister also hopes to see the day when Serena will come out of retirement to play alongside her. Once in an interview, Venus Williams admitted, “I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she were here. Like, we always did everything together, so of course I miss her. But if she comes back, I'm sure she'll let y'all know.”

And if the day ever comes when Serena Williams and her elder sister walk onto a doubles court again, even for a single match, tennis fans will remember the moment their childhood coach first whispered the possibility into existence. Until then, the wildfire will continue to glow… even if Serena insists she’s not the one lighting it.

Recently, tennis star Magda Linette also shared her thoughts on Serena Williams turning down the possibilities of a return. She shared Williams’ post with the caption, “Too bad. Wanted to ask for practice!” 

Everyone wants to see her back on the courts for one more time. Be it tennis players or her former coach. Only time will tell if we will ever come to that day or not, but how did Rick Macci react to Williams’ retirement in 2022?

Rick Macci’s honest reaction to Serena Williams’ retirement

Serena Williams bid farewell to her illustrious career in September 2022 after a three-set defeat to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović at the 2022 US Open. For the man who had coached both Williams sisters before the world knew their names, the news of Serena’s official retirement wasn’t just another headline. It was the closing chapter of a story he had watched unfold from the very first page.

In an interview with AFP in 2022, Rick Macci said, “She's the greatest female tennis player ever to hold a racquet, and the greatest female athlete that we've seen. I tell other people she should go on Mount Rushmore, not just because of the size, the speed, the quickness, the agility, the best serve ever, the ability to dominate you. No, she should be on the Mount Rushmore because when you played Serena, she literally made everybody 'rush more.'"

To Macci, Serena Williams wasn’t just the athlete who changed tennis. She was the comet that changed how coaches trained, how girls dreamed, how mothers believed, and how nations watched.

He further added, “You're never going to see a player like Serena Williams again. She checks every box - size, speed, quickness, strength, agility. She had muscles on muscles even at aged nine.” According to him, Williams could have won 30 Grand Slam titles if she weren’t injured or had to take a break due to childbirth.

Commenting on her retirement, Rick Macci stated, “There will be a little bit of a void. It will take time to create rivalries, and that's why women's tennis right now is very fluid. For someone to be the face and dominate like Serena -- you're never going to see that again.” Interestingly, even at that time, he said, “I could see her and Venus playing doubles two or three years.”

Although Serena Williams has time and again said that she grows tired of constant speculation surrounding a comeback, these are some of the things that make the fans wonder about that special day. You want to see ‘Queen of the Court’ back in action?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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