At 45, Venus Williams is all set to return to tennis, hopes sister Serena will follow soon

Dubai: Venus Williams may be 45, but she’s not ready to hang up her racket just yet. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion is set to make her return to professional tennis at this week's DC Open, marking her comeback after a 16-month hiatus.

The American icon, who faced a serious health scare last year, found renewed motivation after a recent visit to Wimbledon. That experience, paired with her enduring love for the sport, led her to accept a wildcard into the Washington tournament — the first hardcourt event of the US Open series.

“I think I know what I want to do, but I’m not always eager to talk about it,” Williams said. “I’m just here. Who knows what’s next? I keep my plans close, but my focus is on the present.”

Williams will face 23-year-old American Peyton Stearns in her opening match. Ranked 34th in the world, Stearns claimed her first WTA title last year on clay in Rabat.

This will be Venus’s first match since a first-round exit in Miami last year. Her main objective now, she says, is to enjoy the ride.

“My personal goal is just to have fun and live in the moment — not to put too much pressure on myself,” she explained. “I don’t think I define success right now by results. Success is believing in myself and trusting my process, especially after such a long time away. That’s tough, but that’s my focus.”

Sister Serena

She said she would be happier to see her younger sister Serena also join the ride

“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.”

Serena, 43, hasn’t played since the 2022 US Open. “I don’t know what she’s going to do. I don’t ask those questions,” Venus said a day before the hard-court tournament in the nation’s capital begins. “I think we always hit the ball, because that’s who we are. We’re always hitting.”

She said it was during a recent practice session of hers that Serena showed up and joined in for about 15 or 20 minutes.

“She can take six months off and she clocks it clean,” Venus said. “You can’t teach that kind of talent. She’s just so good.”

Full season

Venus captured Olympic gold in singles at Sydney 2000 and owns five Wimbledon titles along with two US Open championships. Her most recent WTA victory came in 2019 at the Taiwan Open — also the last year she played a full season.

“I still feel like I can play well,” she said. “I’m the same player — I hit big. That’s always been my style. The key now is putting those shots in the court. That’s my main goal.”

A year ago, tennis wasn’t even on her radar. Her health had taken priority. “My health journey was terrifying,” Williams shared. “This time last year, I was preparing for surgery. Tennis wasn’t even a possibility, let alone the US Open. I was just focused on getting better.”

Now, back on court, she sees this opportunity as a gift.

“After everything I’ve been through physically, just being able to come back and play — and hopefully enjoy it — feels like a win in itself,” she said.

Her decision to play in Washington was fueled by her love for the game and her favorite surface.

“I’ve been hitting and I love the hard courts — they’ve always felt like home to me,” she explained. “Going to Wimbledon this year reminded me how special it all is. The memories, the adrenaline, the energy — it lit a spark.”

For Venus, it’s all about the joy of competing.

“The fun of the challenge, the thrill of pushing through — that’s what excites me,” she said.

Interestingly, Venus's seven Grand Slam titles match the total of the rest of the field in Washington — which includes four-time major champion Naomi Osaka.