Venus Williams accepted a wild-card invitation to play singles at this month’s DC Open, which might be the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s first event in additional than a yr.
Williams, who turned 45 in June, is listed as “inactive” on the WTA Tour’s web site.
She hasn’t competed in an official match for the reason that Miami Open in 2024.
“There’s one thing really particular about D.C.: the power, the followers, the historical past,” Williams stated in a press release launched Friday by organizers of the hard-court event, which begins with qualifying subsequent weekend. “This metropolis has at all times proven me a lot love, and I can’t wait to compete there once more.”
Williams additionally performed within the nation’s capital in 2022.
“She has impressed individuals all over the world along with her accomplishments on the courtroom and her visionary influence off the courtroom,” stated Mark Ein, chairman of the Mubadala Citi DC Open. “I understand how a lot it means to our D.C. followers and neighborhood to have the ability to watch her compete in particular person this summer season.”
In February, the event in Indian Wells, California, introduced that Williams could be making her return to the tour by enjoying there, then later backtracked and stated it turned out she wouldn’t.
Williams’ most up-to-date Grand Slam appearances got here in 2023, when she exited within the first spherical at Wimbledon — after slipping within the first set and hurting her proper knee — and the U.S. Open.
Her 5 championships in singles on the All England Membership got here in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008 and he or she received the 2000 and 2001 U.S. Open singles trophies, too. She additionally received 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her youthful sister, Serena, whose final event was the 2022 U.S. Open, and a complete of 4 Olympic gold medals.
The older Williams stated in 2011 that she had been recognized with Sjögren’s syndrome, an energy-sapping auto-immune illness that may trigger joint ache.
