Serena Williams: American great eligible to return on 22 February

Serena Williams will be eligible to return to tennis from Sunday, 22 February – but it is unclear if or when the American great will make a comeback.

Williams’ name appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reinstatements list on Monday, meaning she can enter tournaments from the date specified, the organisation confirmed to BBC Sport.

However, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has not announced an official return after ending her career at the 2022 US Open.

BBC Sport has contacted Williams’ agent and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for comment.

Retired players can be reinstated and return to sanctioned events once they have made themselves available for out-of-competition drug testing for at least six months.

In December, the ITIA confirmed to BBC Sport that Williams was back on the list of players registered for the drug testing pool.

Once a player is in the pool, they must let testers know where they will be for one hour of every day.

Hours later, Williams, 44, posted on social media: “I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”

She then refused to rule out a comeback at the end of January, telling the Today Show: “I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens.”