he tennis world is buzzing with anticipation as Novak Djokovic recently shared his strong conviction that Serena Williams is preparing for a sensational return to professional competition. Speaking during his time at the Indian Wells Masters, the 24-time Grand Slam champion expressed a feeling shared by many in the sport, noting that the return of one of the greatest athletes in history would be a massive win for tennis fans everywhere.
Djokovic admitted he hasn’t spoken directly with Serena but feels the general sentiment points toward her comeback. The 23-time Grand Slam winner has been away from the court since her third-round exit at the 2022 US Open, but recent moves have fueled speculation. The 44-year-old mother of two re-entered the anti-doping testing pool late last year, a technical step required for any player looking to regain eligibility for professional play.
While Serena has been coy about her plans—refusing to give a definitive “yes” or “no” during recent television appearances—Djokovic suggested that a return at Wimbledon could be a likely scenario. He even floated the idea of her teaming up with her sister, Venus, for a doubles run. Venus, now 45, remains active and recently accepted a wild card for the Indian Wells draw, keeping the Williams legacy alive on the tour.
Djokovic himself is entering the tournament as the third seed, marking his first appearance since a hard-fought run at the Australian Open where he reached the final. At 38, the Serbian legend is proving that age is just a number. He told Reports that his performance in Australia confirmed he can still compete and win at the highest level against the new generation of stars.
As long as the internal fire and motivation remain, Djokovic sees no reason to stop chasing more titles and Grand Slam trophies. He currently shares the record for the most Indian Wells titles with Roger Federer, holding five trophies each. Although he hasn’t reached the quarter-finals in the desert since 2016, he is eager to launch his latest campaign this Saturday against the winner of the opening-round match between Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Kamil Majchrzak.
