Venus Williams has accepted a wildcard invitation to play a single at DC Open this month. This would be the first match for seven Grand Slam champions in over a 12 months.
Williams, who turned 45 in June, is listed as “inactive” on the WTA Tour web site.
She has not performed in official matches for the reason that Miami Open in 2024.
“There’s one thing actually particular about DC: power, followers, historical past,” Williams stated in an announcement launched Friday by organizers of the laborious court docket match that begins subsequent weekend with qualifying. “This metropolis has all the time proven me a lot love and I can not wait to compete once more.”
Williams additionally performed within the nation’s capital in 2022.
“She impressed folks everywhere in the world along with her work within the courts and her visionary affect from the courts,” stated Mark Ein, chairman of the Mubadara Metropolis DC Open. “We all know how significant it makes her to our DC followers and the group that she will be able to compete straight this summer season.”
In February, the match at Indian Wells, California introduced Williams would return to the tour by enjoying there, then backtracked and stated he discovered himself to not.
Williams’ latest Grand Slam look got here in 2023 when he left the primary spherical at Wimbledon – the US was open after slipping on the primary set and hurting his proper knee.
Her 5 championships in singles at All England Membership appeared in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008, and in addition gained the 2000 and 2001 US Open single titles. She additionally gained 14 Grand Slam Doubles titles alongside along with her sister Serena. Serena’s remaining match was the 2022 US Open, with a complete of 4 Olympic gold medals.
Aged Williams stated in 2011 that she was identified with Sjogren’s syndrome, an power consumption autoimmune illness that would trigger joint ache.
