Serena Williams Says She Doesn’t ‘Have an Agenda’ for Tennis Return: ‘I’m Taking It One Match at a Time’ (Exclusive)
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Credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Serena Williams doesn’t have a set plan for the future when it comes to her tennis career, she tells PEOPLE
- She recently played Mixed Doubles at the U.S. Open with Carlos Alcaraz and will compete in Women’s Doubles with her sister Venus Williams
- Williams credits her life off the court, including motherhood, for helping her enjoy the sport in a new way
Serena Williams made her surprise tennis return this year at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, but she doesn’t have a set plan as to what comes next for her future on the court.
Speaking to PEOPLE in partnership with Factor for the new Serena Williams X Factor Collection, the star athlete, 44, explained that she’s taking the process of playing again as it comes.
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“I really don’t have an agenda right now. I’m taking it one match at a time and seeing where my body can take me,” she explains. “It’s been exciting to see what I’m capable of and to feel myself getting stronger. Right now, I’m just enjoying being back out there and seeing where it goes.”
Serena Williams plays at Wimbledon on June 30th, 2026Credit: Tim Clayton/Getty
The 23-time Grand Slam champion recently played in mixed doubles at the U.S. Open alongside Carlos Alcaraz on August 25 during the tournament’s Fan Week.
“Carlos is obviously so talented, but what really stood out to me is how much joy he brings to competing,” she shares. “We couldn’t stop smiling out there. He can be incredibly intense and focused when the point starts, and then immediately have fun again. I think that ability to stay loose while still being so competitive is really special, and probably a big part of what makes him so good.”
Next up is women’s doubles at the U.S. Open where she’ll play alongside her sister Venus Williams against Maya Joint of Australia and Chan Hao-ching of Taiwan on Friday, Sept. 4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena Williams and Venus Williams walk off the court during the Cincinnati Open on August 17, 2026.Credit: Robert Prange/Getty
The pair, who have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, have come a long way since the early aughts, and it’s a journey Williams says she’s happy to have made alongside her sister.
“We’ve experienced so much together, on and off the court, and I think at this stage we’re able to appreciate these moments in a different way,” she says. “We’re competitive, of course, but we’re also having a lot of fun and really enjoying getting to do this together again.”
Serena Williams seen backstage during Invest Fest 2026 at Georgia World Congress Center on August 09, 2026Credit: Prince Williams/FilmMagic
Joy is a big part of the sport for Williams now, as her life off the court has helped shift her mindset when getting ready to play.
Serena Williams Shares Sweet Photos of Her DaughtersCredit: Serena Williams/Instagram
“I’m balancing a lot right now — training, competing, my businesses, and most importantly, being a mom,” says the mother of Olympia, 8 and Adira, 3. “I think I appreciate it differently now. I’m having more fun and really enjoying the whole process — not just competing, but being back on tour with my team and having my family there with me.”
She continues: “I’m at a different place in my life now, and I think that’s allowed me to enjoy it in a completely new way.”
Read the original article on People