Venus Williams, 45, Accepts Wildcard Invitation To Dc Open

Venus Williams accepted a wild-card invitation to play singles astatine this month’s DC Open, which would beryllium nan seven-time expansive slam champion’s first tourney successful much than a year.

Williams, who turned 45 successful June, is listed arsenic “inactive” connected nan WTA Tour’s website.

She hasn’t competed successful an charismatic lucifer since nan Miami Open successful 2024.

“There’s thing genuinely typical astir D.C.: nan energy, nan fans, nan history,” Williams said successful a connection released Friday by organizers of nan hard-court tournament, which originates pinch qualifying adjacent weekend. “This metropolis has ever shown maine truthful overmuch love, and I can’t hold to compete location again.”

Williams besides played successful nan nation’s superior successful 2022.

“She has inspired group astir nan world pinch her accomplishments connected nan tribunal and her visionary effect disconnected nan court,” said Mark Ein, president of nan Mubadala Citi DC Open. “I cognize really overmuch it intends to our D.C. fans and organization to beryllium capable to watch her compete successful personification this summer.”

In February, nan tourney successful Indian Wells, California, announced that Williams would beryllium making her return to nan circuit by playing there, past later backtracked and said it turned retired she wouldn’t.

Williams’ astir caller expansive slam appearances came successful 2023, erstwhile she exited successful nan first information astatine Wimbledon – aft slipping successful nan first group and hurting her correct knee – and nan US Open.

Her 5 championships successful singles astatine nan All England Club came successful 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008 and she won nan 2000 and 2001 U.S. Open singles trophies, too. She besides won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her younger sister, Serena, whose past tourney was nan 2022 US Open, and a full of 4 Olympic golden medals.

The older Williams said successful 2011 that she had been diagnosed pinch Sjögren’s syndrome, an energy-sapping auto-immune illness that tin origin associated pain.