At 45, the former world number one has not ruled out competing in the US Open again.
Sixteen months after her last official match and subsequent hysterectomy, former world number one tennis player Venus Williams is making her comeback on the WTA Tour at the age of 45 at the tournament in Washington, D.C.
On Monday afternoon local time, the five-time Wimbledon champion will play her first main draw match since her opening-round exit in Miami in March 2024 in a US duel with Peyton Stearns.
When asked about her goals for the near future in a media roundtable before her first serve in the US capital, Williams remained mysteriously tight-lipped, fueling speculation about a return to the upcoming US Open in New York.
“Right now, I’m focused on this tournament. But who knows, maybe something else will come up, but I’m not going to reveal my cards,” said the 2000 Olympic champion: “I think I know what I want to do, but I don’t necessarily want to talk about it.”
Washington is the first hard court warm-up tournament for the US Open, which begins on August 24. In the traditionally last Grand Slam tournament of the year, the older sister of former top player Serena Williams was eliminated in the first round in each of her last three appearances at Flushing Meadows between 2020 and 2023. In 2000 and 2001, however, the Californian won the title in New York.