Venus Williams on her comeback: eager to return to the court and enjoy competition.

On Saturday morning local time, an hour before the start of the WTA 500 Washington qualifier, the fence behind Court 4 was packed with eager fans. The familiar figure, stretching her long limbs and delivering powerful serves, looked so recognizable, even if the fluorescent green tennis outfit seemed somewhat unfamiliar—seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was training for her first official match in 16 months.

Image of Venus Williams

At 45, Venus Williams drew compatriot Stearns in the first round, with the match scheduled for Tuesday local time. In the pre-match press conference, Venus discussed her motivation and reasons for returning to the court.

“Although I only spent one day at Wimbledon this year, that wonderful feeling reminded me of all the glorious moments in my career,” Venus said. “That adrenaline rush, the pure joy of competition, the thrill of challenges and breakthroughs—you have to overcome your opponent, adapt to the environment, and often it’s about surpassing yourself.”

In her career, Venus Williams has won a total of seven Grand Slam singles titles (five at Wimbledon and two at the US Open), 16 Grand Slam doubles titles, and four Olympic gold medals, along with 49 WTA singles titles. Since 2019, she has significantly reduced her schedule, playing only 37 matches over the past six years (winning seven of those), with her most recent tour victories coming from the 2024 Indian Wells and Miami.

She has a special connection to the Washington event: “I fell in love with this city when I first competed here at 13. Returning to play here means a lot to me, and I think it will be a surprise for the fans as well. I’ve faced many physical challenges over the past year, so being able to get back on the court and enjoy the game again is a fantastic opportunity, and I’m very grateful to the organizers for this wildcard.”

Surrounded by friends and family, Venus enjoys the home atmosphere. This legendary figure’s career has been groundbreaking, and she remarked, “When I was younger, I only wanted to win titles; I never thought my influence would extend beyond tennis. Seeing these girls win championships and inspire the next generation is beyond wonderful.”

Venus Williams stated that her comeback will not be limited to just the Washington event, but she chose not to disclose detailed future plans: “I know what I want to do, but I don’t always want to talk about these things. For now, I can only say that I will compete here; who knows what the future holds? Perhaps I will participate in more events.”

(Translation by Wang Fei, Photo by Visual China)