Serena Williams took the tennis world by storm when she decided to accept the final wild card for the women’s singles event at the Wimbledon Championships. Her comeback ended in a hard-fought defeat, and to make matters worse, Serena suffered a right knee injury that left fans wondering if they had seen the last of the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

However, Serena took some time to recover before making her return at the Cincinnati Masters. She accepted a wild card to play doubles alongside her sister, Venus Williams, giving fans another opportunity to watch the legendary sisters compete together.

The duo ultimately lost to Peyton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk, but Serena made it clear that she intends to continue enjoying her time on the tennis court. One of the many people delighted to see her ‘idol’ back in action was none other than WTA star Coco Gauff.

Coco Gauff Opens up About Serena Williams’ Comeback

In a recent interview with USA Today Sports, Gauff spoke about what Serena’s return to tennis means for the sport and reflected on the remarkable longevity of her idol’s career.

“I think just the longevity that she has in the game, I feel like the generation, her generation, most of them retired around 30. The fact that she can play at such a high level, at her age, and knowing that it’s never too late to chase your dreams again.”

Serena has previously explained that one of the main reasons behind her comeback is simply to enjoy playing tennis again. She has also said that she wants her daughters to have the opportunity to watch her compete live.

Gauff, however, believes there is probably another motivation behind Serena’s return: winning.

“I know she said her goal is just to have fun and to have her daughters watch her play. I grew up watching Serena, so I am sure she definitely wants to win as well. But for me, it’s been super cool to just be in the same area as my hero.”

Will Serena Williams Play Singles at the US Open?

Gauff, who is still searching for her first title of the 2026 season despite reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, could also draw inspiration from watching her childhood hero make another comeback.

Serena’s own US Open plans, however, remain unclear. The USTA has already handed out all but one of its women’s singles wild cards, and there is growing speculation that the final spot could be reserved for the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

Women’s wild cards announced for the U.S. Open.

Both discretionary main draw spots went to former champions, Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens.

One TBA slot; one wonders if, like at Wimbledon, that one is parked for a pending Serena decision. pic.twitter.com/CsvpiZU6mk

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 18, 2026

For now, though, there has been no official confirmation from Serena herself. Whether she decides to return to singles at Flushing Meadows remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the US Open, and tennis fans will have to wait for the champion to make the final call.