Venus Williams has delighted her massive fanbase by revealing she will play on the WTA Tour for the first time in over a year.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has not competed in a professional tournament since the 2024 Miami Open nearly 16 months ago. She lost in the opening round to the young star Diana Shnaider.
Since then, Williams has dropped out of the Top 1000. Making a comeback in her mid-forties and after disappearing from the rankings seemed like a challenging task after being away for so long.
Those factors have not stopped Williams. The five-time Wimbledon winner made a statement confirming she will play at the 2025 Citi Open in Washington with a wild card, which begins on July 21st.
“I'm excited to accept a wild card to the Mubadala Citi DC Open. There's something truly special about D.C.: the energy, the fans, the history. This city has always shown me so much love, and I can’t wait to compete there again!"
Unsurprisingly, tournament organizers are absolutely thrilled to have such an iconic figure on the entry list. Mark Ein, chairman of the Citi Open, outlined how delighted he and the whole event were to hand Williams the wild card.
“We are so excited that Venus will be playing in the Mubadala Citi DC Open this year. She has inspired people around the world with her accomplishments on the court and her visionary impact off the court. I know how much it means to our D.C. fans and community to be able to watch her compete in person this summer.”
It will be fascinating to observe what level Williams is at in Washington. Playing professional singles matches at 45 is unique and a testament to the work she has done to stay in great shape off the court.
Williams had hinted at a tennis return without being definitive in a recent interview. The former world No. 1 mentioned she was hitting the ball well in practice and said she would not rule out competing at more tournaments.
In her last professional appearances at the 2024 Indian Wells Open and the 2024 Miami Open, Williams performed competently and showed some promising signs despite losing in the opening round to Nao Hibino and Diana Shnaider at both events.
However, there are question marks about whether Williams would manage physically over three sets. In the 6-2, 3-6, 0-6 loss against Hibino in Indian Wells, she looked tired and stiff in the deciding set.
It has been nearly 16 months since that moment. How well the 45-year-old Williams will last if the matches are lengthy, especially in the hot Washington conditions, is an even more pertinent question and something to watch out for.
Regardless, one of the most iconic female players ever competing again is exciting news. Despite being the older sister of Serena Williams, who retired at the 2022 US Open, she has still not retired yet.
The 2025 Citi Open should be a great event. Both the women's and the men's entry lists for the tournament contain several great players for fans to get excited about.
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