She never really said goodbye. She stayed there, in silence, at the edge of the world of tennis, carried by an unwavering love for the game. At 45, Venus Williams, icon of world tennis, is preparing to tread the courts again. Sixteen months after her last official match, she will return to competition during the WTA 500 tournament in Washington, scheduled from July 19 to 27.
The announcement was welcomed with a mixture of surprise, admiration and nostalgia. “Coming comes to DC!” », Launched the organizers, with the communicative joy of those who know that they will welcome a legend. The player confirmed herself the information, soberly but with emotion, by sharing the poster of the tournament on her social networks: “see you soon, DC”, she wrote, as a sweet meeting with her audience.
Classified 1151st in the world during its last appearance in the WTA ranking, Venus never officially bowed out. Despite injuries, prolonged absences and the weight of years, she has never extinguished the little spark that has been animating her for three decades.
Her last match dates back to March 2024, in Miami, where she lost to the young Russian Diana Shnaider. A setback in two sets (6-3, 6-3), far from the splendor of its great years. But at Venus Williams, performance is no longer the essential: it is persistence, the elegance of the gesture, the fidelity to the sport that it embodies.
Since his very first professional match in Oakland in 1994, Venus has known everything: glory, pain, resilience. She won 49 titles, including seven in Grand Chelem – five in Wimbledon, two at the US Open – and inspired by entire generations of players. It is also, and above all, the eldest of a dynasty that has redefined the contours of female tennis.
Washington will therefore mark a new chapter of this unique epic. A parenthesis or a final challenge? Never mind. What matters is this intact thrill at the idea of seeing her again, racket in hand, smiling lips, ready to challenge time once again.
