Serena Williams Set for Tennis Comeback Following Controversial Super Bowl Ad
Serena Williams, despite her previous assertions of not planning a return, is now officially recognized as an active player by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. The agency has placed the 44-year-old on its reinstatement list, effective February 22, 2026, following her completion of a mandatory six-month waiting period after re-entering the anti-doping testing pool.
“The Serena comeback is now officially official,” tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg announced, sharing a screenshot of the reinstatement list on his Bounces blog.
This news coincides with Williams’ recent appearance in a Super Bowl advertisement for Ro, a weight loss company linked to her husband, Alexis Ohanian, who serves on its board. During the commercial, she stated, “I’m on Ro. 34 pounds down on Ro,” emphasizing her health journey and the support she received from the brand.
“Healthier on Ro. Supported by Ro. FDA-approved, GLP-1 options now even in a pill,” she continued. “I’m moving better on Ro. I’m feeling better on Ro. I’m Serena Williams. This is me on Ro.”
In a statement promoting the ad, Williams expressed, “I feel better now than I have in years. For me, this journey has been about feeling strong, energized, and healthy in my body; I feel like myself again.” She highlighted how Ro helped her focus on her health effectively.
Williams has previously discussed her use of GLP-1 medications and shared her weight loss experience in an August 2025 interview with People. “It was crazy because I’d never been in a place like that in my life where I worked so hard, ate so healthy and could never get down to where I needed to be at,” she reflected. “I had never taken shortcuts in my career and always worked really hard. I know what it takes to be the best.”
As of 2026, GLP-1s remain legal in professional tennis; however, the World Anti-Doping Agency has included these drugs in its monitoring program, indicating ongoing research into their effects on athletes.
Should Williams indeed return to competitive tennis, the implications of her medication use could arise—something she previously denied when rumors circulated about her re-entry into the testing pool last year. “Omg yall I’m NOT coming back,” she posted on X at that time, dismissing the speculation.
On January 28, during an appearance on Today, host Savannah Guthrie pressed Williams about her potential return. “I mean, really? Are you asking this on the Today show? Oh my gosh,” Williams responded, deflecting the question.
After some back and forth, Guthrie inquired if Williams’ evasions indicated a “no.”
“I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now,” Williams replied. “I’m just gonna see what happens.”
“That’s a ‘maybe’ to me,” Guthrie remarked.
Williams countered firmly, “That’s not a ‘maybe.’”
