'He's been hitting with her...since January': Serena Williams' comeback story continues

(Getty/Cameron Spencer)

The whispers around a potential return of Serena Williams have grown louder in recent months, shifting from nostalgic hope to something far more tangible. And few have tracked those developments as closely as American tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, whose reporting via his online newsletter Bounces has offered rare insight into what may be unfolding behind the scenes.

Speaking to Rothenberg, the sense is not that a comeback is guaranteed — but that it is, at the very least, being seriously explored.

"I'd been hearing about Serena hitting and having ambitions to be coming back," Rothenberg told The First Serve. "Then, sure enough, she added herself back into the anti-doping testing pool, which was sort of the confirmation that something was clearly up, because there's no reason any player would ever do that without an intention to explore the possibilities."

That single administrative move — rejoining the testing pool before the US Open last year — was the clearest signal yet. For a player who stepped away from the sport after the 2022 US Open, famously describing it as "evolving away" rather than retiring, it represented a deliberate step back toward competition.

Spending six months on the anti-doping test pool as required by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), Serena is now eligible to enter pro tennis tournaments again, as of February 22.

But it is what Serena has been doing off the record that has elicited more water-cooler chatter.

Firstly, there was the Instagram post from World No.95, Alycia Parks, showcasing a practice hit in Miami between the pair pre-tournament. When asked about Parks' recent hitting sessions with the 23-time major champion, Rothenberg confirmed to The First Serve that they are hitting "fairly frequently in Florida".

And now, in one of the most intriguing developments first reported on Bounces, Serena is having regular practice sessions with former ATP professional Jesse Levine at the exclusive, invitation-only Shell Bay Club in Florida. "He popped up because I think it was one of the Bryan brothers, I think Bob, who posted a video of Jesse and Serena hitting together during the Australian Open," Rothenberg explained.

After securing an interview with him during the Miami Open, Levine revealed to Rothenberg that the Australian Open practice wasn't just a once-off.

"He's [Levine] been hitting with her pretty regularly since January, once or twice a week," Rothenberg said. "She came as a guest of a member, and once they realised Serena Williams had any interest in being there, they quickly got her a membership."

What stands out is not just the frequency of those sessions, but the effort required. Shell Bay is not conveniently located for Serena, requiring a significant commute from her base in Jupiter, Florida. That alone hints at a level of commitment that goes beyond casual hitting.

"This is not something that's even particularly convenient for Serena," said Rothenberg. "It's something that she's kind of seeking out."

Levine, too, is no ordinary practice partner. His résumé offers insight into the level Serena is training at.

"He had been a top 100 player for quite a while," Rothenberg noted, "and he was actually a really popular practice partner, particularly for Roger Federer in a lot of Federer's peak years."

Federer, famously meticulous in his preparation, would regularly bring Levine into training blocks due to his reliability and left-handed play — valuable traits for sharpening his skills against another famous lefty: Rafael Nadal.

Beyond his playing days, Levine has also spent time coaching top American players, including Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula, further underlining the calibre of Serena's current training environment.

Listen to The First Serve Live every Monday at 8pm AEDT in its 18th year on the SEN Network/App, Australia's only dedicated weekly tennis program on commercial radio running through till the end of November.

Yet perhaps the most fascinating subplot in this potential comeback is physical. Rothenberg pointed to Serena's improved conditioning, linked to a weight-loss drug she has publicly endorsed.

"I think the weight issue was real for her," he said. "She's talked about it since, her having extra weight in those years was a challenge, it was keeping her from her best."

According to Rothenberg, Serena herself has suggested that access to such treatments during her late-career years may have altered her trajectory: "She said in interviews promoting this drug that she wishes it had been available to her during her career — that it would have made a meaningful benefit."

Now, at 44, Serena appears leaner than she has in years. While age remains an undeniable factor, Rothenberg believes her current physical condition could help offset some of that decline.

"The trade-off is that she's years older, but she does seem to be in leaner shape than she has been in a long time," he mentioned.

Still, the question lingers: was this always part of the plan?

When Serena exited the sport in 2022, her language was notably ambiguous. She resisted the word "retirement", instead framing her departure as an evolution. But Rothenberg is cautious about reading too much into that phrasing.

"I think she was pretty done at that point," he said. "She had struggled with injuries, she wanted to have a second kid. Those were big motivations."

That said, the door may never have been fully closed.

"I think she maybe felt like she still had some good tennis left in her on some level," Rothenberg added, pointing to her competitive showing at that final US Open, where she defeated then-world No.2 Anett Kontaveit.

Even so, sentiment and possibility are very different from reality — particularly in a sport that has evolved rapidly in her absence.

"I wouldn't say I was confident she could be very competitive," Rothenberg admitted. "She’s turning 45. That's way beyond the normal range of competitive capability in tennis."

It's not just age, either. The length of her absence — nearly four years — presents its own challenges.

"That's a long time for anybody to be on the bench and to come back at any age," he said.

There have been other long-shot comeback attempts in women's tennis — notably Jennifer Capriati and Marion Bartoli — who never wound up playing a match in their bid to return to professional tennis.

And yet, if there is one player capable of defying precedent, it is Serena.

"At the same time, she's Serena Williams," Rothenberg said. "If anyone can overcome some of those challenges, she's certainly top of that list."

For now, the tennis world waits. A return could take many forms — a full singles campaign, a doubles reunion with Venus Williams, or even a brief farewell on her own terms.What is certain, however, is that the conversation itself is no longer hypothetical. As Rothenberg put it, "there are enough signals there now" to suggest that something, at the very least, is being seriously considered.

And, as Rothenberg put it, Serena "loves drama" which he said is, "really healthy for a superstar like herself at this level to be able to handle that kind of spotlight".

All the media conjecture, this article included, doesn't hurt either.

"I don't think that she's minding that we're spending all this time talking and wondering about her," he added.

For now, the Serena comeback story continues in earnest.

Hume Tennis and Community Centre is Australia’s #1 Tennis Tournament Venue and winner of Tennis Victoria’s Club of the Year 2023, hosting over 60 events each year ranging from Hot Shots to professional tournaments. Hume Tennis has a tournament experience for all levels.  Known as the Tennis Paradise in Melbourne, Hume Tennis boasts 14 outdoor Plexicushion courts, a Café, and a Pro Shop—making it the perfect destination for teams and coaches traveling from interstate, with convenient accommodation available. Visit www.humetennis.com.au to find out more