Venus Williams Announces Comeback After Over a Year Away from Tennis

Edited By: Widad WAHBI

American tennis legend Venus Williams has confirmed her return to competition after more than a year of absence, marking a highly anticipated comeback at the DC Open in Washington, D.C.

Appearing relaxed and smiling at a press conference ahead of the tournament, the 45-year-old champion expressed joy at resuming her career but admitted it would be even more meaningful if her sister, Serena Williams, were competing alongside her.

“I keep telling my team: the only thing that would make this tournament better is if she were here,” Venus said, referring to a recent viral video of Serena casually swinging a racket. “We’ve always done everything together. So of course, I miss her.”

Serena, 43, has not played since the 2022 US Open, where she announced she was “evolving away” from tennis after dominating the sport for decades and collecting 23 Grand Slam singles titles, along with 14 doubles titles shared with Venus.

Venus described a recent practice session during which Serena spontaneously joined her for 15 to 20 minutes. “She can take six months off and still hit like that,” Venus said. “That’s just raw talent. You can’t teach it.”

Both sisters have previously held the world No. 1 ranking and defined an era of women’s tennis. Venus herself boasts seven Grand Slam singles titles, including five at Wimbledon and two at the US Open.

Her last competitive appearance was at the Miami Open in March 2024, where she exited in the first round. The WTA had since listed her status as “inactive.”

Speaking with poise and quiet excitement, Venus noted: “It’s very special for me to come back and play tennis. I think it’s a surprise for the fans — and a surprise in general, because I tend to keep things close to my chest.”

As she returns to the professional tour, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the tennis icon performs in this new chapter of her historic career.