Serena Williams: Andy Roddick tips tennis icon to make 'unbelievable' comeback at Wimbledon 2026 - ‘Best chance’

Williams, who won 23 Grand Slam titles, stepped away from tennis after the 2022 US Open.

However, rumours of an "unbelievable" return to tennis for Williams have increased in volume after she re-entered tennis' drug testing pool in December last year, which is a requirement for anyone competing in tournaments.

Williams, 44, has so far not confirmed a comeback, but a return to action at this year's Wimbledon would offer one of tennis' greatest ever players the best possibility to make a dramatic comeback, according to Roddick.

"I don't think as soon as you re-enter doping protocols, you do that because you want the option of coming back, right?" Roddick said on his podcast. "Maybe you don't know if you're coming back or not, but at the very least, you're thinking really hard about it.

"And I know this isn't a pragmatic decision. I'm sure there's emotion. I'm sure there's the champion's mentality, ego and like, what if and all of this stuff. If you enter doping protocols, you're looking to come back. Or at least you're looking at the option to come back.

"If you do that and you're Serena Williams, I got to think, is she going to be faster than when she left? I don't know. I mean, she looks in fantastic shape. And I think you could say her best chance of lightning in a bottle in this comeback is that it's on grass at Wimbledon.

"If she's not sure in November and re-enters doping protocols, can she say I'm coming back? She can't do anything quietly. She's Serena Williams!"

When Williams stepped away from tennis in 2022, she did not use the word "retiring" and instead preferred to say she was "evolving" away from tennis.

Although in December she denied she was looking to make a return to tennis, she has given much more lukewarm statements since.

"I'm just having fun and enjoying my life right now," Williams said on the ‘Today’ show last month.

Asked whether that was a yes or no to a return, she replied: "That's not a yes or a no. I don't know, I'm just going to see what happens."

And if she was to return to action, Roddick believes Williams would definitely play singles, but could be tempted into doubles to compete with her sister, Venus.

"I do think the only thing that is a little bit of a doubles motivated thing - as her sister [Venus] is also not retired yet," he said. "So would you do it for your sister for one last run at the US Open or something like that? Yes. And I said that eight months ago. So that's the only caveat.

"I don't think she plays only doubles at Wimbledon. I think she's going to play singles. But I think there's a half a chance she plays singles before that.

"I just don't see at this point in her life where she's in her forties coming back. How many shots in the basket are you going to have on your best surface in singles again, if that's your intent?

"I don't think she can skip Wimbledon this year in singles. I think if you're going to come back, I think you got to go.

"At this point I'd be more surprised if she didn't come back just to put a bow on it. I think we're going to see her play professional tennis. I will put it in my veins. I want Serena back on the tennis court. That would be unbelievable. I hope it happens."

Williams is a seven-time winner at Wimbledon, with her last victory in London coming in 2016.

This year's Wimbledon will begin on Monday, June 29 and run until Sunday, July 12.

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