{"id":1809411,"date":"2026-03-05T19:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T16:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1809411"},"modified":"2026-03-05T19:00:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T16:00:47","slug":"novak-djokovic-predicts-when-serena-williams-could-make-stunning-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1809411","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic predicts when Serena Williams could make stunning comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Novak Djokovic predicts when Serena Williams could make stunning comeback<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oli-dickson-jefford\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oli Dickson Jefford                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"05 Mar 2026 7:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"05 Mar 2026 7:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1772737247\"><br \/>\n                            05 Mar 2026 7:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" 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<\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Novak Djokovic predicts when Serena Williams could make stunning comeback\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Novak-Djokovic-Serena-Williams-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams.\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Tennis icons Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams.                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Novak Djokovic has revealed his belief that fellow tennis icon Serena Williams will likely be making an official return to tennis in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/serena-williams\">Williams<\/a> officially retired from tennis at the 2022 US Open, following a career that had seen her win 23 Grand Slam singles titles and spend 319 weeks as the WTA world No 1.<\/p>\n<p>However, rumours have been circling for several months that the 44-year-old could be planning a sensational return to the sport in 2026, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/is-serena-williams-about-to-announce-her-comeback-to-tennis\">after it emerged last year that she had re-entered the International Registered Testing Pool \u2014 a mandatory requirement to compete<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/serena-williams-fuels-comeback-speculation-telling-interview\">Williams refused to directly rule out a comeback in a televised interview back in January<\/a>, fuelling further speculation that a comeback could be imminent.<\/p>\n<p>Having re-registered for the testing pool, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/serena-williams-cleared-comeback-return-date\">the 23-time Grand Slam champion has officially been eligible to return to action since February 22<\/a>, and practised with WTA Tour player Alycia Parks last month.<\/p>\n<p>While there has been no official confirmation about whether and when Williams could return to the sport, anticipation is already growing about a potential comeback for the tennis icon.<\/p>\n<p>And, speaking ahead of his Indian Wells campaign this week, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic<\/a> \u2014 himself a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion \u2014 revealed his belief that his fellow all-time great was likely making a return.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think she\u2019s coming back,\u201d said Djokovic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know. I haven\u2019t spoken to her, but I guess the sentiment is that she\u2019s coming back. Where and how, singles, doubles, we don\u2019t know, and if I\u2019m in her position, I would hide it too.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/jannik-sinner-beat-carlos-alcaraz-indian-wells-prediction\">Jannik Sinner beats Carlos Alcaraz \u2013 former British No 1 makes bold Indian Wells prediction<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/emma-raducanu-telling-coaching-comments-indian-wells-2026\">Emma Raducanu says her \u2018natural\u2019 game has been \u2018coached out\u2019 of her in telling comments<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, everybody is excited, and it\u2019s definitely something that\u2019s very highly anticipated. So, you know, let\u2019s see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic was then asked whether he thought Williams would potentially make her return at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/wimbledon\">Wimbledon<\/a>, a tournament where both players are seven-time singles champions.<\/p>\n<p>The 38-year-old claimed that SW19 could well be the American\u2019s comeback venue of choice, and further suggested that Williams could be returning to play doubles alongside her sister, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/venus-williams\">Venus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He replied: \u201cI pick that one [Wimbledon] as well as her comeback, but yeah, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think she might maybe play a doubles tournament or two with Venus. That would be nice to see, just from my point of view and tennis fans, for sure.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, and she\u2019s one of the greatest athletes, really. It would be great to have her back too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic\u2019s comments came ahead of action in Indian Wells, with the Serbian the third seed in the men\u2019s singles event.<\/p>\n<p>The Serbian is targeting a record-breaking sixth men\u2019s singles title at the tournament this year, though he has failed to make it to the quarter-final in his last five appearances in Tennis Paradise.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic has received an opening-round bye and will face either Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Kamil Majchrzak in round two.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, while Williams is not in action, her older sister Venus will be competing.<\/p>\n<p>The 45-year-old received a wildcard into the women\u2019s singles draw and will take on qualifier Diane Parry on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/indian-wells-2026-withdrawal-list-dubai-medvedev-rublev-khachanov-confirmed\">Indian Wells Open withdrawal list: 19 players out as Medvedev, Rublev &amp; Khachanov\u2019s presence confirmed<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Novak Djokovic predicts when Serena Williams could make stunning comeback Oli Dickson Jefford 05 Mar 2026 7:00 PM Tennis icons Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams. Novak Djokovic has revealed his belief that fellow tennis icon Serena Williams will likely be making an official return to tennis in 2026. Widely considered one of the greatest tennis [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1809411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1809411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1809411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1809411\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1809411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1809411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1809411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}