Serena Williams has made the stunning decision to come out of retirement at the age of 44 to play at Wimbledon, reversing her decision to step away from tennis four years ago. The American legend confirmed her return by entering the women's singles draw as a wildcard, returning to the stage where she claimed eight of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
Family Motivation Behind Comeback
Williams had stepped away from the sport to focus on her family, but the lure of the court proved too strong. When asked about her reasons, she quipped that "it's summer" and "the kids aren't in school," hinting that her daughters would otherwise keep her occupied. Former men's professional Christopher Eubanks believes family is the driving force. "There's no changes to her legacy that will come as a result of this return. I don't see anyone changing their mind about where Serena Williams stands all-time," Eubanks told The Associated Press. "This is about more than just records. At this point, it's more about family. Not just playing in front of her daughters, but having her daughters sit there and watch her train every day and have to wake up and put in the long, hard yards and doing fitness and doing treatment."
Serena Williams' Net Worth
Williams ranks among the wealthiest female athletes of all time, with career earnings of $95 million (£71.9m) from tennis prize money alone. Lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, Gatorade, and Wilson, combined with investment ventures, have elevated her net worth. Forbes estimates her personal net worth at approximately $350 million (£264.8m) in 2026, a $50 million (£37.8m) increase from the previous year. She launched Serena Ventures in 2022 to champion businesses founded by women and ethnic minorities. Williams is part of the ownership group of WNBA expansion team Toronto Tempo, founded in 2026, and holds minority stakes in the UFC and Miami Dolphins NFL franchise.
Husband Alexis Ohanian and Family
Williams met tech entrepreneur and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in Rome in May 2015 during the Italian Open. They married in 2017. Ohanian, 43, co-founded Reddit with Steve Huffman, which was acquired by Condé Nast in 2006 for an estimated $10-20 million. He is a significant investor in women's sports, playing a key role in expanding the NWSL and acquiring a stake in Chelsea Women's team in May 2025, serving on its board. The couple have two daughters: Alexis Olympia, eight, and Adira River, almost three. Williams won the Australian Open in 2017 while eight weeks pregnant with Olympia. Ohanian revealed that Serena "nearly died" during labour. A strong indication of her comeback emerged when she shared training footage with Adira assisting with a resistance band, captioning: "Rumour has it...I got a new trainer."
After four years away, Williams returns to Wimbledon as a wildcard entrant, with her daughters watching from the stands.
