Venus Williams returns to professional tennis after a period of inactivity. The American tennis player, who has been off the courts for more than a year, expressed her joy at returning to compete in the DC Open, although she also expressed her wish that her sister Serena Williams were present.
Serena, 43, hasn’t played since the 2022 US Open, where she announced her “evolution” out of the sport. Venus revealed that both sisters still practice together, and highlighted Serena’s innate talent. Venus, who turned 45 last month, has won seven Grand Slam singles titles and reached number 1 in the world rankings. Her last tournament was in March 2024 at the Miami Open, and currently, the official WTA Tour website classifies her as “inactive”.The only thing that would make this better is if she were here. We always did everything together, so of course, I miss her.
Venus Williams
Venus’s participation in Washington, through an invitation, surprised the tennis world. The president of the DC Open, Mark Ein, expressed his enthusiasm for having her at the event, highlighting her impact on and off the court. Venus shared that she missed the adrenaline and fun of playing, as well as overcoming the challenges of the game. When asked about her return, she simply replied: “Why not?”. Regarding her future plans, Venus was cautious, focusing on the present and not ruling out further participations. She affirmed that, although she has been a year without playing, she trusts her ability and her style of play.This is very special for me, to come back and play tennis. I think it’s a surprise for the fans, and a surprise in general, as I keep my cards close.
Venus Williams
I’m here for now, and who knows? Maybe there’s more. But, for the moment, I’m focused on this. I haven’t played in a year. There’s no doubt that I can play tennis, but obviously getting back to playing matches takes time. I definitely feel like I’ll play well. I’m still the same player. I’m a great hitter. I hit hard. This is my brand.
Venus Williams
