Serena Williams has made a sensational return to Wimbledon for the first time since 2022, stunning fans with a striking physical transformation after using weight-loss medication. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, now 44, is competing in both singles and doubles at the tournament, marking her first appearance at the All England Club in four years.
Comeback After Four-Year Absence
Williams played her final professional match at the 2022 US Open, where she lost a grueling three-set match to Ajla Tomljanovic. After that defeat, she delivered an emotional farewell to fans at Flushing Meadows. She resisted any urge to return until last year, when she submitted documentation to be reinstated into the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) testing pool. The ITIA confirmed on October 6 that Williams had been placed back on the register of players subject to drug testing.
Despite initial speculation, Williams denied a comeback on social media, posting: "I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy." However, six months later, she accepted a wildcard to play doubles at Queen's Club with Victoria Mboko. They won their opening match but lost in the quarter-finals after their opponent withdrew due to a knee injury. She then partnered Karolina Muchova in doubles at the Berlin Open, where they lost in the first round.
Physical Transformation and Weight-Loss Medication
Williams revealed her transformed appearance in July 2025, displaying a leaner, more sculpted frame. In an interview with Vogue, she disclosed using GLP-1 weight-loss medication through the consumer healthcare firm Ro. "I was training five hours a day—running, walking, biking, stair climbing—but I still struggled to lose weight," she said. "I needed to try something different." The medication helped her achieve chiseled abdominal muscles and a trimmer physique.
Her Instagram caption at the time read: "Working out and working on my angles." She has since posted several other images showcasing her toned figure.
Wimbledon Return and Future Plans
Williams has entered the doubles draw with her sister Venus Williams and accepted a wildcard into the singles draw, where she faces Maya Joint in the first round. Speaking to Time Magazine in April 2025, she expressed her longing to compete again. "I miss it a lot, with all my heart," she said. "I miss it because I'm healthy. If I couldn't walk, or if I was so out of it, I wouldn't miss it as much."
ITIA spokesman Adrian Bassett clarified that Williams' inclusion in the testing pool did not automatically signal a return, but left the door open. "She has notified us that she wants to be reinstated into the testing pool," Bassett told The Athletic. "I do not know if this means she is coming back, or just giving herself the option."
