No retirement for Serena Williams just yet as she enters Toronto next month

Williams is a three-time champion at the National Bank Open, with the last of those titles coming in 2013

Serena Williams at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Toronto, ON, Canada in 2019 Image Credit: Icon SMI / Panoramic

July 14, 2022

Last month’s Wimbledon return seems to have whet Serena Williams‘ appetite for more. The 40-year-old American has entered the National Bank Open in Toronto next month, one of the key lead-up events into the U.S. Open, the final Grand Slam of the season.

Tournament organizers confirmed that Serena Williams is on the entry list for the WTA event, which alternates between Toronto and Montreal every other year.

Williams, who dropped off the rankings this week, returned to the tour in Eastbourne to play doubles with Ons Jabeur last month – a full 12 months after her first-round retirement at the All England Club.

She’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

That’s right, our 3-time champion @serenawilliams returns to Toronto. And she likes playing here, she’s reached the semis of better the last five times she’s played. #NBO22 pic.twitter.com/3OzZsEnBIP
— National Bank Open (@NBOtoronto) July 14, 2022

It definitely makes me want to hit the practice courts because when you’re playing not bad and you’re so close
Serena Williams after her Wimbledon exit

She made her singles return at Wimbledon but lost to unheralded Harmony Tan, of France, in a third set tiebreak, leaving many to wonder if she would continue playing.

While speaking to the press after her loss at Wimbledon, Williams was not sure when she would play next.

“When asked if that was the last singles match she had played, Williams responded that she did not know. “I don’t know. Like I said coming into this, I’m just planning for right now, seeing how I feel, just to go from there. That’s a question I can’t answer. I don’t know. I feel like, I don’t know. Who knows? Who knows where I’ll pop up.”

At the same press conference, Williams did say that she was motivated to practice more and play her home Grand Slam, which she has won six times in her career.

“When you’re at home, especially in New York, and the U.S. Open, that being the first place I’ve won a Grand Slam, is something that’s always super special. Your first time is always special. There’s definitely lots of motivation to get better and to play at home,” Williams said.

“It definitely makes me want to hit the practice courts because when you’re playing not bad and you’re so close… any other opponent probably would have suited my game better,” she said. “So yeah, I feel like it’s actually kind of like, OK Serena, you can do this if you want.”

Williams is a three-time champion of the National Bank Open, the last of those coming in 2013.