Venus Williams Returning to Tennis at WTA Tour's DC Open, 1st Pro Match Since 2024
Venus Williams is back.
Williams accepted a main draw singles wildcard at the WTA Tour's DC Open, which starts on July 19.
The 45-year-old hasn't competed in an official match since the Miami Open in 2024, although the seven-time Grand Slam champion is now slated to make her return.
Williams' last match came against Diana Shnaider in Miami, suffering a 6-3, 6-3 defeat in the first round.
She previously competed at the DC Open in 2022.
“There’s something truly special about D.C.: the energy, the fans, the history,” Williams said in a statement released Friday, via Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press. “This city has always shown me so much love, and I can’t wait to compete there again.”
Williams received a wild-card entry to Indian Wells earlier this year, but didn't participate after revealing that she had a scheduling issue.
She was noncommittal surrounding a return in a video posted on her YouTube channel in April, but still left the door open for a comeback.
“I really don't have a plan for the first time in my life," Williams said (h/t Bentley Maddox of E! Online). "As an athlete and a player, there's a whole plan [like], ‘I'm gonna play this tournament and play these tournaments so I'd be ready for that tournament.’”
“Now it's like, ‘Oh, I love playing. I'm gonna play every day.’ And if I feel ready to play, then I'll play," she added.
Williams owns a record of 818-278 throughout her lengthy WTA Tour singles career, winning 49 singles titles. She emerged victorious at Wimbledon five times, with her two other Grand Slam wins occurring at the U.S. Open.
