Not retiring! Serena Williams to compete in the tour at age 46

For any professional athlete, being over 45 years old is undoubtedly considered quite advanced in age, especially in a physically demanding and high-investment sport like professional tennis. However, fans were pleasantly surprised to see Serena Williams, born in 1980, listed among the women's singles main draw players for the 2026 WTA250 Auckland tournament.

It is reported that the American veteran, who will turn 46 next year, received a valuable main draw wildcard from the tournament organizers. Alongside Serena, American player Sloane Stephens and British player Katie Boulter also received wildcards. Stephens, also a former Grand Slam singles champion, adds significant interest to this relatively low-tier tennis event.

Serena Williams, an enduring figure in women's tennis, began her professional career back in 1994. Many current tennis fans were likely not even born then. At just 14 years old, Serena started competing in professional tour events. In 2000, she won her first Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open, and at the Sydney Olympics that same year, she secured gold medals in both singles and doubles.

By the 2002 season, Serena Williams had reached world No. 1 in singles for the first time thanks to her consistent and outstanding performances. She also achieved the No. 1 ranking in doubles, where she and her sister Venus formed a doubles team that was a nightmare for many opponents.

Although she remained active on the professional circuit, Serena Williams has constantly battled injuries. Her last Grand Slam final appearance was at the 2017 Australian Open, where she lost in the final to her sister Venus.

In recent years, Serena has maintained a schedule of playing a few select tournaments each year. Last year, she competed consecutively at the Paris Bank Open and Miami Open, losing in the first round to Nao Hibino and Laura Siegemund respectively. This year, Serena appeared at the home Washington tournament, where she lost a tough three-set match in the first round to singles specialist Karolína Muchová. However, in doubles, she teamed up with compatriot Catherine Harrison to secure a match victory.

Regardless, Serena Williams’ achievements so far have already placed her above many players. Simply her seven Grand Slam singles titles place her among the top players, not to mention her numerous other championship accomplishments.

Currently, Serena seems to be enjoying the joy that tennis brings her. Fans look forward to seeing her stay in the tennis world for a few more seasons, showcasing her unique charm and style.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Barbie)