Serena Williams on the US Open and Why ‘There’s Nothing Like Playing With Venus’

3 min read

Serena Williams is back. Four years after stepping away from competitive tennis, the legendary player returned to the court this summer and is finally at the US Open once again. Williams’s history at Arthur Ashe Stadium goes back decades, including her very first Grand Slam win in 1999. Since then, she’s won 22 more and now has her husband and two daughters—8-year-old Olympia and 3-year-old Adira—cheering her on.

“It’s been really special,” Williams tells ELLE in an email of her kids seeing her compete. “Olympia grew up watching me play, but now that she’s older it’s a new experience, and she’s really wise and gives me advice! I love that she gets to now share this with Adira, who is so fun to have in the stands. I’m happy they’ll be able to remember their mom playing.”

Though a lot has changed since Williams’s early tennis years, at least one thing will be like old times: Her sister Venus will be beside her at the net. The pair is set to face Chan Hao-Ching and Maya Joint in the first round of women’s doubles, marking the sisters’ first time playing at a major together since 2022.

Serena and Venus Williams at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.

“There’s really nothing like playing with Venus,” Serena says. “We’ve been doing this together since we were little girls, so being back at Arthur Ashe beside her feels incredibly familiar and also really special.”

As she prepared for her comeback, staying healthy was of the utmost importance. Along with her usual training, Williams also partnered with Factor to curate a series of healthy, ready-made meals each month. The collection is inspired by her own approach to food, which she describes as “nourish my body with real ingredients, prioritize protein, and keep it simple.”

The Serena Williams x Factor meals include selections like Grilled Filet Mignon and Creamy Parmesan Shrimp, Blackened Salmon and Smoked Gouda Hash, and Miso Chicken and Edamame Quinoa. The menu is also “GLP-1-friendly,” as Williams recently opened up about using the weight-loss drug in hopes of combating the stigma surrounding it.

“Being on a GLP-1 hasn’t changed how seriously I take training or nutrition. If anything, it’s made me even more intentional about making sure I’m giving my body what it needs, getting enough protein, eating real food, and really listening to my body,” she explains.

Williams stars in a campaign for Factor.

“That’s one of the things I love about Factor. It makes it easy to have meals that support what I’m trying to do without having to overthink it. For me, it’s about feeling strong, having energy, and making choices that work for my body.”

That strength and energy surely showed up on the court. What surprised Williams most about her comeback was “how quickly that competitive side comes back. Apparently, she never left!” she says. “But I’m also coming back at a very different point in my life, so I’m listening to my body more and being much more intentional about how I nourish, recover and take care of myself.”

Williams’s return to Arthur Ashe seems to be off to a strong start. Last week, she teamed up with Heineken 0.0 to launch limited-edition cans inspired by her past US Open victories. And, in one of the tournament’s biggest highlights so far, she played mixed doubles with Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, who told us Williams “made everything very easy and we had a lot of fun. It’s something I will remember for a long time.” Williams returned the high praise.

Williams playing mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz during the US Open.

“Carlos is such an incredible player, but he also brings so much joy to the court,” she says. “He has this amazing energy—he’s competitive, obviously, but he’s always smiling and having fun. As a partner, you feel that. He makes you want to raise your level, but at the same time he keeps things loose, which I really appreciate. And I have to say, having that speed on your side of the net is pretty nice.”

Whether she’s teamed up with Alcaraz or her own sister, or is serving solo, it’s pretty nice to see the GOAT on the court again, too.