Novak Djokovic confident Serena Williams will return to tennis tour

[p]"[b]I think she's coming back,[/b]" [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Djokovic[/a] said Wednesday at the ATP/WTA Indian Wells Masters.[/p][p]"[b]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.[/b]"[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/williams-serena/ttsu68nH/"]Williams[/a], a 23-time Grand Slam champion, hasn't competed since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open.[/p][p]But the 44-year-old mother of two re-entered the anti-doping testing pool in December and regained eligibility.[/p][p]Initially she denied she planned a comeback, but in January she declined to rule it out, telling NBC's "Today" show: "That's not a yes or a no. I don't know, I'm just going to see what happens."[/p][p]Djokovic said players were buzzing at the prospect.[/p][p]"[b]Everybody is excited, and it's definitely something that's very highly anticipated,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]Williams's sister Venus, 45, accepted a wild card into the Indian Wells singles draw and will face France's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/parry-diane/hQQLzcNT/"]Diane Parry[/a] in the first round.[/p][p]Djokovic suggested Serena could return for Wimbledon - where she is a seven-time singles champion.[/p][p]"[b]I pick that one as well as her comeback,[/b]" he said. "[b]I don't know. 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.[/b][/p][p]"[b]She's one of the greatest athletes, really. It would be great to have her back too.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="3f5cd0ae-2d78-4241-ad9a-ceeb8c29b6d4" url="https://x.com/DjokovicFan_/status/2029362342878953536?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Djokovic is seeded third in Indian Wells as he plays his first event since he fell to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a] in the Australian Open final, after toppling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] in the semis.[/p][p]"[b]For me that has been a phenomenal result,[/b]" the 38-year-old said. "[b]I have proven to myself primarily and to others that I can still compete at the highest level and beat these guys.[/b][/p][p]"[b]So my logic is why not keep going as long as I have that fire and flair and quality and also motivation to do that.[/b][/p][p]"[b]There are objectives and goals that are always there. You want to win, so you want to get another title and get another Slam, hopefully,[/b]" he said. "[b]I was close in Australia.[/b]"[/p][p]Djokovic's five Indian Wells titles are tied for the most with Swiss great [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/federer-roger/GrsQDFC0/"]Roger Federer[/a].[/p][p]But he hasn't reached the quarter-finals since his last title run in 2016.[/p][p]He'll launch his latest desert campaign on Saturday against either France's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mpetshi-perricard-giovanni/ITe9m2F8/"]Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard[/a] or Poland's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/majchrzak-kamil/fPZlNrGS/"]Kamil Majchrzak[/a].[/p]