Serena Williams 'trying' to play again before US Open after Wimbledon comeback, says coach - but where will she compete?
Updated 08/07/2026 at 07:39 GMT+1
React to this story
Serena Williams wants to play more singles matches before competing at the US Open later this summer, according to her coach. Williams, 44, played her first singles match in almost four years at Wimbledon, and was beaten in the first round.
Highlights: Djokovic, Gauff dig deep as Sinner races through to semi-finals
Video credit: SNTV
The 23-time Grand Slam champion had only played two doubles matches ahead of making her highly-anticipated singles comeback at the All England Club.
She was not able to win on her return to Wimbledon, as she was beaten in three sets by 20-year-old Maya Joint.
"I'll leave it to her to discuss her medical stuff, and how she's feeling, but I know that for her trying to play, certainly something before the US Open will be something she would like to do," Williams’ coach Rennae Stubbs told reporters at Wimbledon.
"She doesn't want to go and do what she did here, which was just play singles, at the US Open, but at the same time, it's going to depend on, physically, how she's doing."
Williams was left ”heartbroken” to withdraw from the doubles at Wimbledon, but said her ”knee just isn’t ready to compete”.
She added: "All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you…"
Before returning at Wimbledon, the US Open looked as though it would be the final tournament of Williams’ career following her third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in 2022.
But she now looks set to play again in New York when the Grand Slam starts on August 30.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/07/07/image-17be43e3-e328-498f-95db-76df08e157d0-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Highlights: Fery fairytale continues with stunning win over Dimitrov
Video credit: SNTV
The two big tournaments on the WTA Tour calendar before the US Open are the WTA 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati. The Canadian Open starts on August 2, while the Cincinnati Open gets started on August 13.
There are also the Washington DC Open and Memphis Classic later this month (both start on July 27), if Williams wants a slightly more low-key return.
- 'Tremendous' Fery now at home on Centre Court - Konta
- Gauff fights back to reach first Wimbledon semi-final
"She's got a lot of things to consider, her family, her businesses. But her goal is to keep going," said Stubbs.
"Getting on the hard court will be a lot more stable for her. And we all know how well she plays on hard court.
"So it's just a matter of getting her body back into the shape she wants. And then we'll see."
Williams is a six-time winner of the US Open, and has also won the doubles title at the Grand Slam twice with sister Venus.
They played together in New York in 2022, and could again team up at their home Slam.
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.
Enjoy daily highlights from Wimbledon 2026 on tntsports.co.uk and the TNT Sports app, plus watch and stream highlights each evening and the men's and women's singles finals live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement