Venus Williams: Tennis legend accepts wild card to make playing return at DC Open after 16-month absence | Tennis News
Venus Williams accepted an invitation to the Joker to play in single at DC Open this month, which would be the first seven-time tournament of the Grand Slam champion in more than a year.
Williams, who was 45 years old in June, did not participate in an official match since the Miami Open in March 2024, where she lost in the first round as a joker.
It was announced as an entry of Joker for the BNP Paribas Open of February to Indian Wells before confirming that she was not playing after all.
But, five months later, Williams confirmed that she would play the event of Washington DC, which includes both the WTA and the ATP Tour, with the tournament taking place from July 21 to 27 live Sky Sports Tennis.
In a statement published on tournament organizers, Williams said: “There is something really special at DC: The Energy, The Fans, The History.
“This city has always shown me so much love, and I can’t wait to compete again there.”
The president of DC Open, Mark Ein, said: “She inspired people around the world with her achievements in the court and her visionary impact on the ground.
“I know how much it means for our DC fans and our community to be able to see it compete in person this summer.”
Williams’ most recent apparitions of the Grand Slam of Williams were in 2023, when she went out in the first round at Wimbledon – after slipping the first set and injured her right knee – and the United States.
Williams, the older sister of the winner of 23-Grand, Serena, won her seven Grand Chelem titles between 2000 and 2008, including five in Wimbledon.
Look at ATP and WTA visits, as well as the United States in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with now and the Sky Sports application, giving Sky Sports customers to more than 50% live sport this year without additional costs. Learn more here.
