Djokovic: I Think Serena’s Coming Back

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Photo credit: TPN/Getty

INDIAN WELLS—Novak Djokovic is both the Grand Slam king and an avid tennis fan.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion returned to Indian Wells today and shared his belief 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams may well be weeks away from her tennis comeback. Furthermore, Djokovic said if he was in the four-time Olympic gold medal champion’s shoes he wouldn’t telegraph too much information before returning either.

“I think she’s coming back,” Djokovic told the media in Indian Wells. “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to her, but I guess the sentiment is that she’s coming back.

“Where and how, singles, doubles, we don’t know, and if I’m in her position, I would hide it too.”

Following his pre-tournament presser, Djokovic got his kicks in playing soccer with friends on the Indian Wells grass.

The 10-time Australian Open champion said he envisions Serena playing doubles with sister Venus before launching a potential singles comeback during grass season in preparation for Wimbledon, which starts on June 29th.

“I pick that one [Wimbledon] as well as her comeback, but yeah, I don’t know,” Djokovic said. “I think she might maybe play a doubles tournament or two with Venus. That would be nice to see, just from my point of view and tennis fans, for sure.

“Yeah, and she’s one of the greatest athletes, really. It would be great to have her back too.”

Though the 44-year-old Serena has been tight-lipped about her rumored return, she has been hitting regularly. Williams hit with friend Alycia Parks last month with Parks telling Tennis Majors Serena would “kill it” if she came back.

“She is in great shape. So I think she would kill it on tour,” Parks told Tennis Majors in an exclusive interview.

Serena, the mother of two daughters, has shed 34 pounds on the weight-loss drug Ro and regained the six-pack abs she had during her peak playing days. Serena also told The Today Show she has been training for a half marathon.

The owner of 73 career singles titles appears to have another pro tennis run within. The question is: Where does it begin?