“Serena Williams Returns to the US Open: Is This the Start of a New Chapter for Tennis’s Most Iconic Champion?”

NEW YORK (AP) — Welcome back to the U.S. Open, Serena Williams.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, returned to Flushing Meadows on Saturday — but she was watching tennis, not playing it.

And she brought back an old look, wearing a denim skirt similar to the one she sported while competing in New York in 2004.

This was the first visit to the U.S. Open by Williams since 2022, when she played there in the final tournament of her career. She made it to the third round then before losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in her last match, although Williams was careful not to say she was retiring, but rather described it as “evolving” away from professional tennis.

She’s been plenty busy ever since, pursuing her business interests, signing a book deal, putting out a documentary series currently airing on ESPN and, in July, hosting the ESPYS. Williams gave birth to her second daughter a year ago.
The 42-year-old American won six singles championships at the U.S. Open — tied with Chris Evert for the most — during her decades of dominance with a racket in her hands. This time Williams was sitting in a suite in Arthur Ashe Stadium while Jannik Sinner, the No. 1-ranked man, earned a straight-set victory in the third round against Chris O’Connell.