Venus Williams is set to return to her first tour in more than a year with the DC Open 2025 on Monday, July 21. The former world number one had a major health scare last year after which he was declared “inactive” after the WTA.
Williams will have her first meeting with fellow American Peyton Stearns in the first round. This is Williams’ second appearance at the D.C. event, following a first-round loss in 2022. She will also feature in the women’s doubles with her partner Hailey Baptiste.
“This is very special for me to come back and play tennis,” Venus said. “I think it’s a surprise for the fans — and a surprise in general, as I hold my cards tight.” You know, this time a year ago I was preparing to go to surgery. There was no way for me to play tennis or play the US Open. … I was just trying to get healthy.”
The 45-year-old Venus Williams, who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, last contested a draw at Miami in March of 2024, where she exited in the first round.
DC Open chairman Mark Ein said: “She’s such an icon of the sport — and, importantly, both on and off the court,” Ein said in an interview. “So anytime you can have her engaged and have the spotlight on her and everything she’s done and continues to do, it’s hugely positive.”
On being asked if she is here for the long haul: “I think I know what I want to do, but I don’t always want to talk about it. I’m just here for now, and who knows? Maybe there’s more. Like I said, I hold my cards close, but at the moment, I’m focused just on this.”
“All the times that I had and, of course, the adrenaline, all those things,” she said. “Just the pure fun of playing the game, the fun of the challenge, overcoming — when you play, you overcome so many challenges: your opponents, the conditions, a lot of times you have to overcome yourself. Those things are very exciting.”
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Venus Williams also said that she misses her sister and 23-Grand Slam winner Serena Williams on the court.
“I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like, we always did everything together, so of course I miss her,” Venus said when asked about a recent video on social media that showed Serena swinging a racket. “But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”
The most recent of her 49 WTA titles came in 2019 at the Taiwan Open. That was the last year she played a full tour schedule.
Venus Williams, the 2000 Sydney Olympic singles champion, has won five Wimbledon singles titles and two US Open crowns.
