Venus Williams returns to tennis, hopes sister Serena will also join the fun

India Today

5 days ago

Venus Williams is making a long-awaited return to tennis, driven by nothing more than her enduring "love of the game"-and perhaps, a quiet hope that her sister Serena might also be tempted to join her.After a 16-month absence, the 45-year-old is set to compete at the 2025 Citi DC Open, her first tournament since the 2024 Miami Open where she lost in straight sets to Diana Shnaider. She has not won a singles match since the 2023 Cincinnati Masters and spent much of the last year recovering from a lingering knee injury. But for Venus, returning to the court isn't about chasing wins.advertisement"Why not?" the seven-time Grand Slam champion said with a smile when asked why she was coming back. "This time I had been hitting the ball. And of course I love the game, and the hard courts-it's my favourite surface, what I feel comfortable on. So, all those different factors."
Venus will face Peyton Stearns in the opening round in Washington-a first-time meeting between the two. While much of the spotlight will fall on her comeback, the attention hasn't entirely been hers. Serena Williams, the younger of the iconic sisters and a 23-time Grand Slam champion, was recently spotted practising, fuelling speculation that she too might consider returning to the sport she dominated for two decades.Serena officially retired at the US Open in 2022, but Venus, never one to rule anything out, hinted that her sister might not be done just yet. "I think there's still a little spark," she suggested lightly, though stopping short of any confirmation.During her time away from the tour, Venus dabbled in commentary, joining TNT Sports' coverage team at the French Open. Reflecting on that experience, she admitted it was both enjoyable and nerve-wracking."I think it could be very easy to say the wrong thing, is what I realised when I was live on the air," she said. "I was, like, 'Just be careful. Don't say the wrong thing. Don't be too opinionated,' because I have a lot of opinions, and many of them possibly unfounded. So, I'm glad I got out of it without being cancelled!"But tennis is where her heart remains. "As a young person, I wanted to play the game, be a champion. I loved the game so much, I didn't realise that it would be so much bigger than myself," she said."And seeing these young women doing positive things with their life, winning tournaments, inspiring the next generation, too, it's like I could have never imagined that. So, it's like icing on the cake, cherries on top with the nuts and all the fixings. It's beautiful."For now, Venus is back. And if her enthusiasm is anything to go by, there may yet be a Williams sisters moment to savour again.- EndsTrending Reel