Serena Williams Says She Doesn't 'Have an Agenda' For Tennis Return Amid US Open Run

Serena Williams told Emily Rella of People Magazine in an exclusive interview that she doesn't have an "agenda" as she continues her return to professional tennis at the U.S. Open.

"I really don't have an agenda right now. I'm taking it one match at a time and seeing where my body can take me," Williams told Rella. "It's been exciting to see what I'm capable of and to feel myself getting stronger. Right now, I'm just enjoying being back out there and seeing where it goes."

Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles championships during her legendary career. In an Aug. 2022 essay for Vogue, Williams announced that she was "evolving away from tennis" to focus on growing her family and continuing the progress of her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures.

Williams got back on the court in June for doubles action at the HSBC Championships in London. She won her first match alongside partner Victoria Mboko against the No. 3 seed, Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe. Their run ended in the quarterfinals via walkover after Mobko suffered a left knee injury during her singles action at the tournament.

Williams played doubles in Berlin in June and Cincinnati in August. She also made her singles return at Wimbledon, giving Maya Joint a great fight before losing in three sets.

Now Williams has made her return to the U.S. Open. She played mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz. The duo won their first match in straight sets against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool before falling to the No. 4 seed (and the eventual finalists), Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.

A reunion with sister Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles winner and 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion (all with Serena), now awaits in women's doubles. The duo is scheduled to face the No. 14 seed, featuring Joint and Hao-Ching Chan, on Friday.