Need to know

  • Serena Williams has been practicing multiple times a week with professional player Alycia Parks.
  • Parks says Williams is fit and "hitting good."
  • Williams last played a professional match in 2022 and has described her current phase as an "evolution" rather than retirement.

Practice, not headlines

Alycia Parks told a sports outlet that she and Serena Williams have been hitting together several times each week. Parks said she asked Serena to practice after a stint overseas and that Serena agreed. When Parks is home, she estimated their sessions happen about three times a week.

How does Serena look on court?

Parks was direct about what she sees: "She's hitting good," and she described Serena as fit. Parks, who has earned WTA titles in singles and doubles, portrayed the sessions as helpful for her own game and as straightforward practice time with a mentor.

So is this a comeback?

Fans want a clear answer. Parks did not provide one. She said she does not know if or when Serena will return to tour play and that their conversations during practice focus more on tennis and less on comeback plans. "We just go to practice, we don't really talk too much about her coming back," Parks said. "It's just like fun stuff."

Where Serena stands publicly

Serena played her last professional match at the 2022 US Open. Since then she has avoided describing her situation as retirement. In a long essay she said she prefers the word evolution to retirement and has been cautious about labeling the change in her career.

At the end of 2025, reports said she had requested to reenter the international testing pool that active players join. Serena responded publicly, telling fans she was not coming back at that time and calling the speculation overblown.

What to watch

  • Short term: more practice sightings and comments from Parks could keep the rumor mill active.
  • Medium term: any official move to rejoin testing pools or tournament entry lists would be a clear signal.
  • Long term: Serena has framed this phase as a shift in focus, so any return would likely be announced on her terms.

For now, the clearest thing is that Serena is on court, looking sharp in practice, and that her training partner is enjoying the sessions. Whether that leads to a competitive return remains unknown.