Serena Williams dodges Savannah Guthrie’s question about a tennis comeback

Serena Williams had an awkward exchange on NBC's Today show on Wednesday, Jan. 28, when host Savannah Guthrie asked the former pro about rumors she might return to professional tennis. Guthrie referenced reports that Williams had "reentered the drug testing pool, which some see as the precursor to a return to tennis," and asked, "are you returning to professional tennis?" Williams laughed and replied, "I mean, really?

Are you asking this on the Today show? Oh my gosh." An off-camera man could be heard laughing as Williams added, "All the people on your set that are laughing. This is distracting. You’re distracting us over there." As Guthrie pressed, "Is that a no?" Williams repeated, "Is that a no?" and largely avoided a direct answer, saying, "I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now." When Guthrie noted that was "not a yes or a no," Williams said, "I’m just gonna see what happens." Guthrie called that a "maybe," and Williams responded, "That’s not a maybe." Williams, who shares daughters Olympia, 8, and Adira, 2, with husband Alexis Ohanian, has described herself as a "full-time, stay-at-home" mom and even listed her occupation as "housewife" on a recent form.

Williams last played at the 2022 US Open and said then she was "evolving away" from tennis without formally retiring.

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