Venus Williams will grace TV screens again at the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros, but not in the ways fans have been accustomed to seeing over the years.
It has been over a year since Williams' last professional on-court appearance at the 2024 Miami Open, when she lost to Diana Shnaider in the opening round. She also played at last year's Indian Wells Open.
Despite her long absence, looming 45th birthday in June, and no longer being ranked, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion is not retired and intends to return to the WTA Tour at some stage by picking and choosing her tournaments.
Williams has decided to try something new while also remaining linked to the sport she has done so much for by accepting an opportunity to work on TNT Sports' coverage of this year's French Open.
Securing the five-time Wimbledon winner's services for the event at Roland Garros is a significant coup for TNT Sports. One of the most iconic figures in tennis history, giving her insights throughout the tournament, will undoubtedly generate more attention for the broadcaster.
Although clay has been Williams' weakest surface during her illustrious career, she still reached the 2002 final at Roland Garros, losing to her legendary 23-time Grand Slam-winning sister Serena at that stage.
Williams' involvement was announced in a video. She will be joined by several significant names in the sport, including two other active former Grand Slam champions.
Sloane Stephens is one of the other active players confirmed for TNT Sports coverage. The 2017 US Open champion has been injured since February with a foot injury sustained at the 2025 Merida Open, but is back training and hopes to return soon.
Stephens shares two other similarities with Williams. Her ranking has plummeted, falling outside the Top 300 after she was injured and unable to defend her Rouen Open title. Stephens is also a former French Open runner-up, losing the 2018 final to Simona Halep.
Caroline Wozniacki is the other active player on the TNT Sports team. The 2020 Australian Open winner returned to the sport in 2023, but it is currently paused due to her being pregnant with her third child. However, she is not retired.
Multiple other notable names are on TNT Sports' star-studded list for the French Open. 1999 champion Andre Agassi, who has not done much commentary or analysis since retiring, is also in the TNT Sports video.
Although Agassi will always be best known for his amazing tennis career, the eight-time Grand Slam champion has played pickleball in recent years, including teaming up with the sport's No. 1 player.
John McEnroe is another confirmed former finalist in Paris. The ex-world No. 1 brings humor and a distinctive style to his commentary and analyst work, but many fans find him overly talkative and sometimes disrespectful to lower-ranked players.
Seven-time French Open champion Chris Evert, two-time winner in Paris Jim Courier, and 1998 finalist Lindsay Davenport were the others confirmed for TNT Sports' coverage.
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