Serena Williams Continues To Drop Comeback Hints

Serena Williams may be following in the footsteps of Tom Brady as the latest athlete to return to their respective sport after mulling retirement. 

“I’ve just been saying that I think Tom Brady started a really cool trend,” Williams told “Good Morning America” in September when asked about a possible return to the tennis court. 

Ahead of the U.S. Open, the 23-time Grand Slam winner told Vogue that she was “evolving away from tennis,” but last week declared she was “not retired” at a TechCrunch conference. 

Williams — who Forbes ranked as the third-highest-paid tennis player this year with $35.1 million in earnings — said that her chances of returning to the sport are “very high.”

• As of June 2022, Williams’ estimated net worth was $260 million.
• She has pocketed $94 million in prize money since going pro in 1995.
• Williams has also invested in over 60 startups through her VC fund Serena Ventures. 

What was believed to be Williams’ last dance at the U.S. Open in September saw record-breaking viewership as millions tuned in to see one of the greatest athletes in history compete for perhaps the final time. 

Williams’ third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic averaged 4.6 million viewers — the most-watched tennis telecast in ESPN’s history. The results were an 18% uptick from ESPN’s previous record of 3.9 million in 2012 for the men’s final. 

Business Empire

Williams has invested in fitness-related companies, including Tonal. She is also a part-owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and the NWSL’s Angel City FC.