Venus Williams isn’t done with tennis. The 45-year-old legend returned to competitive play this month at the DC Open and showed she still has fire in her belly and power in her swing.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner made it to the Round of 16 in the women’s singles competition before falling to No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech. She also teamed up with Hailey Baptiste in doubles, winning her first professional match since March 2024.
Williams was candid after her defeat to Frech, stating in her on-court interview that she had to return in part to keep her health insurance benefits intact. But her results in D.C. showed she’s still capable of competing, especially when her serve is clicking and she can limit unforced errors.
She’s already got plans to extend her summer run — including a return to the U.S. Open.
Cincinnati Open Is Next for Venus
Williams will next play in the singles tournament as a wildcard at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, another hard-court lead-up event to the U.S. Open. The tournament kicks off on August 5.
This will be her 11th appearance in Cincinnati, where she holds a 12–9 career record. Her best runs came in 2012, when she reached the semifinals, and 2019, when she advanced to the quarterfinals.
The field in Cincinnati will be even stronger than in Washington, with nearly all of the Top 20 expected, including defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, along with Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu.
Williams Returns to Flushing
Williams is also officially set to play in the U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Championship, partnering with fellow American Reilly Opelka. The duo has been awarded one of eight wild-card entries into the revamped 16‑team field.
The USTA released the full lineup this week, confirming the eight direct-entry teams based on combined singles rankings and six wild cards — which include high-profile pairings like Raducanu and Alcaraz, Djokovic and Olga Danilovic, and Keys and Tiafoe.
The mixed doubles event will take place August 19–20 in Arthur Ashe Stadium during Fan Week. With just two days of play and a $1 million prize pool, the tournament is designed to be a fan-friendly, high‑profile showcase.
Williams and Opelka — both former Top 20 singles players with big-serving weapons — will be among the most anticipated teams in the draw.
Williams will also play in the Stars of the Open exhibition on August 21 joining legends like Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, and Andy Roddick for a night of on-court fun inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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