INDIAN WELLS, California -- Even Novak Djokovic can't help but get excited about Serena Williams' heavily speculated return to tennis.
Speaking to the media Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open, the 24-time major champion was asked about Williams, the 23-time major champion, having cleared doping protocols and thus paving the way for a potential comeback.
"I think she's coming back," Djokovic said. "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.
"Yeah, everybody is excited, and it's definitely something that's very highly anticipated. So, you know, let's see."
When pressed further, Djokovic said he thought Wimbledon -- a tournament in which both Williams and Djokovic have won seven times -- would be a great potential site to officially make her return. But he added that she "might maybe play a doubles tournament or two with Venus" first.
"That would be nice to see, just from my point of view and tennis fans, for sure," Djokovic, 38, said. "Yeah, and [Serena is] one of the greatest athletes, really. It would be great to have her back too."
Williams retired -- or, in her words, was "evolving away" -- from tennis following the 2022 US Open to continue expanding her family. She welcomed her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian the following year.
In recent years, the 44-year-old has been seen publicly cheering on Venus, her older sister, as she continues to play professionally. Venus in turn has spoken openly about her desire for Serena -- who wrote "P.S. I hope to be like you" in an admiration post to Venus after her first-round exit at the US Open in August -- to still play.
Williams returned to the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) registered testing pool in the fall, and news about her re-entry broke in early December. By doing so, she would have to provide her whereabouts at any given time, every day and participate in random testing for six months before being officially reinstated.
She denied that she was returning at the time -- posting on X: "Omg yall I'm NOT coming back" -- but her responses to such questions have softened recently. Earlier this week, current world No. 96 Alycia Parks posted a video of herself hitting with Williams, fueling even more speculation.
Williams was officially reinstated at the end of last month. She hasn't provided any further information about whether or when she might play again -- but that won't stop tennis fans, including fellow GOATs such as Djokovic, from getting enthusiastic about the possibility.
