At 45, Venus Williams' determination turns anxiety into a trending topic, with netizens joking: Are the wealthy starting to align with ordinary people?

After the reason for the legendary American Venus' comeback at 45 was revealed, fans and netizens expressed their surprise, thinking that someone as wealthy as her would no longer worry about life. It turns out she is ensuring that "like us ordinary people, hard work is still necessary"!

Since losing to Russian newcomer Schneider in the first round of the Miami 1000 tournament in March 2024, Venus has been on the sidelines. With no signs of a comeback and frequent displays of affection with her boyfriend, many believe Venus may not return to the court. After all, she has already achieved wealth and honor, and given her age, if she quietly retires, it would be completely understandable. Some netizens humorously pointed out that at 45, Venus could easily be the mother of many girls born in the 2000s.

Unexpectedly, Venus made her return to the tennis world at the Washington 500 tournament, surprising everyone.

While the public was unaware of how the Washington event organizers convinced the 45-year-old US Open legend, one thing that deserves applause is her serious attitude towards the competition; she chose to compete in both singles and doubles. Considering her age of 45, it commands respect.

At that time, many speculated that Venus, at her age, was merely a promotional tactic for the event, possibly making a grand appearance without taking it seriously. Many boldly predicted that in her first-round match against compatriot Stearns, she wouldn't give her all, likely just playing casually, thinking, "It’s not worth it to push hard and lose; if I get injured, it’s even worse."

However, Venus truly impressed everyone!

Against 21-year-younger Stearns, Venus not only showed no signs of slackening but fought with the same determination as in her youth.

When Venus swept past the young Stearns with scores of 6-3 and 6-4, it was hard to believe that this was something a 45-year-old veteran could achieve. Some expressed their surprise, thinking Venus would surely lose to the younger Stearns, but she proved to be as formidable as ever, showcasing the allure of a legend. "I suggest all young girls take a look and see how Venus plays."

What’s impressive about Venus is that not only did she perform strongly in singles, but she also played with great dominance alongside her partner, Baptiste, eventually reaching the quarterfinals.

It’s likely that Venus herself didn’t expect her return from Washington to result in a new record in tennis. With her victory over Stearns, Venus became the oldest player to win a WTA tour match since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 2004, who was 47 at that time.

Initially thinking that after her minor successes in Washington, Venus at 45 might not be as relentless in subsequent matches, she surprised everyone by still being the fierce competitor in Cincinnati. Although she exited early, she unexpectedly earned another title: the fighter among champions.

When the US Open announced its wildcards and Venus’ name was prominently listed, some questioned why, with numerous championships and a flourishing career and love life, she would still push herself so hard at 45 instead of enjoying life.

Is it true that at such an advanced age, Venus returning to the court means tennis is ingrained in her very being, making it hard to let go? The answer, revealed by fans and netizens, brought forth a lot of emotions.

"I have to come back to play for my health insurance! This year they informed me I’m included in COBRA (the unemployment continuation of health insurance), and I need to ensure I have these rights, so I started training. As you know, I always have to see doctors, so I really need this insurance." When Venus revealed her "forced" reason for playing, it left many stunned.

Some humorously remarked that while it’s understandable for ordinary people to feel anxious, it was unexpected for someone as wealthy as her to feel the same way. "Could it be that she’s also a master of comedic timing?"

The core reason many found it hard to understand why Venus was still competing is that, although her career achievements don’t match those of her sister Serena, she has long been recognized as a wealthy figure in the tennis world.

Recently, media reported that Venus has earned over $42 million in her career, equivalent to over 300 million yuan. Coupled with her investment savvy and various other businesses outside of tennis, her net worth has surpassed one billion yuan.

"Is the world of the wealthy now also becoming competitive, aligning with ordinary people?" someone joked.

However, some stated that regardless of whether Venus truly needs this health insurance due to economic pressure, at 45, her relentless spirit is a commendable quality that everyone should emulate: if those who are more talented and wealthy than you are working so hard, when is the right time for you to strive?(Source: Tennis House, Author: Moon River's Starry Sky)