logo
Venus Williams is back in tennis and wishes Serena would come out of retirement to join the fun

Venus Williams is back in tennis and wishes Serena would come out of retirement to join the fun

Yahoo4 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Venus Williams is back on the tennis scene, ready to compete for the first time in more than a year, and while she smiled or laughed frequently Sunday while discussing her return at the DC Open, there was something that would make her even happier: if her younger sister Serena were along for the ride.
'I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like, we always did everything together, so of course I miss her,' Venus said when asked about a recent video on social media that showed Serena swinging a racket. 'But if she comes back, I'm sure she'll let y'all know.'
That, of course, was said with a wide grin. Serena, 43, hasn't played since the 2022 U.S. Open, when she declared she was 'evolving' away from the sport she dominated for stretches on the way to 23 Grand Slam singles titles and an additional 14 in doubles with Venus.
'I don't know what she's going to do. I don't ask those questions," Venus said a day before the hard-court tournament in the nation's capital begins. "I think we always hit the ball, because that's who we are. We're always hitting.'
She said it was during a recent practice session of hers that Serena showed up and joined in for about 15 or 20 minutes.
'She can take six months off and she clocks it clean,' Venus said. 'You can't teach that kind of talent. She's just so good.'
They both were the best around at one point.
Both reached No. 1 in the rankings. Venus, who turned 45 last month, won seven major singles championships, two at the U.S. Open and five at Wimbledon.
Her last tournament was in March 2024 at the Miami Open, where she exited in the first round. It's been so long that the official WTA Tour website lists her as 'inactive.'
'This is very special for me to come back and play tennis,' Venus said. 'I think it's a surprise for the fans — and a surprise in general, as I hold my cards tight.'
Sure does.
It came as a bit of a shock to the tennis world when her appearance in Washington via a wild-card invitation was announced a week ago.
Her team had reached out to DC Open chairman Mark Ein via text in April to gauge whether he'd be open to having Venus at an event she last entered in 2022. He said he needed two seconds to reply: 'Of course.'
'She's such an icon of the sport — and, importantly, both on and off the court,' Ein said in an interview. 'So anytime you can have her engaged and have the spotlight on her and everything she's done and continues to do, it's hugely positive.'
What did she miss the most while away from the tour?
'All the times that I had and, of course, the adrenaline, all those things,' Venus said. 'Just the pure fun of playing the game, the fun of the challenge, overcoming — when you play, you overcome so many challenges: your opponents, the conditions, a lot of times you have to overcome yourself. Those things are very exciting.'
When asked why she's getting back on court, Venus offered a simple response: 'Why not?'
As for whether this is a one-stop tour or she plans to play elsewhere, she wasn't prepared to say much.
'I'm just here for now, and who knows?' Venus said. 'Maybe there's more. ... But at the moment, I'm focused just on this. I haven't played in a year. There is no doubt I can play tennis, but obviously coming back to play matches, it takes time to get in the swing of things. I definitely feel I'll play well. I'm still the same player. I'm a big hitter. I hit big. This is my brand.'
___
Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NFL training camp 2025 news, live updates: Justin Fields reportedly carted off with injury at Jets practice
NFL training camp 2025 news, live updates: Justin Fields reportedly carted off with injury at Jets practice

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

NFL training camp 2025 news, live updates: Justin Fields reportedly carted off with injury at Jets practice

All 32 NFL teams have reported to training camp, and there's no shortage of intrigue and storylines so far. Thursday started off concerningly for the Jets, as quarterback Justin Fields was carted off the field with a leg injury, according to SNY's Connor Hughes. We're tracking all the updates below. Advertisement On Wednesday, Brian Daboll made it clear in his first media availability of camp with the Giants that Russell Wilson is the team's unquestioned QB1. "The guys will be out here competing," Daboll said, "but Russ is our starter." Daboll also discussed rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart and why he's sitting to start the season. "I think there are some real benefits from sitting and learning, especially with the experienced players and coaches here," he said, and referencing offensive coordinator Mike Kafka's experience on Kansas City's staff in 2017 when Patrick Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith for a year. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Also from Giants camp: franchise tackle Andrew Thomas will start training camp on the PUP list while working his way back from foot surgery last season, though general manager Joe Schoen expects him to be ready for Week 1. And star wide receiver Malik Nabers is a "full go" for training camp after recovering from a toe injury. Advertisement Who else will make headlines this week? We're rounding up the news, updates, position battles, contract drama and more you need to know. Off we go! NFL team feeds AFC East: Buffalo Bills | Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets AFC North: Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Pittsburgh Steelers AFC South: Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans AFC West: Denver Broncos | Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders | Los Angeles Chargers NFC East: Dallas Cowboys | New York Giants | Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Commanders NFC North: Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Minnesota Vikings Advertisement NFC South: Atlanta Falcons | Carolina Panthers | New Orleans Saints | Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC West: Arizona Cardinals | Los Angeles Rams | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks Follow along below as Yahoo Sports tracks all the news, rumors and updates from NFL training camps:

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields carted off practice field with apparent leg injury
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields carted off practice field with apparent leg injury

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields carted off practice field with apparent leg injury

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields was carted from the practice field Thursday morning with an apparent lower leg injury. Fields threw an incomplete pass to Jeremy Ruckert on his fifth play of team drills when he went down. The quarterback, in his first season with the Jets, sat on the grass for a few moments before getting up and limping to the sideline while helped by a trainer. It wasn't clear how the injury occurred in the Jets' second practice of training camp. The team had no immediate word on Fields' condition or the nature of the injury. Fields spent a few minutes in the injury tent on the sideline as trainers examined him before a cart came out to transport him into the facility. Fields sat in the passenger seat next to the driver in the cart and then got up under his own power before stepping inside to be further evaluated. First-year coach Aaron Glenn stopped the team period after Fields was hurt and the Jets ran special teams drills. Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract as a free agent in March after playing last season in Pittsburgh and is expected to be New York's starter this season. Veteran Tyrod Taylor, in his second season with the Jets, is the backup and replaced Fields in team drills. New York also has Adrian Martinez, the 2024 United Football League MVP, and rookie Brady Cook on its roster, but neither has thrown a pass in an NFL game. If Fields is sidelined for a significant amount of time, the Jets could be in the market for an experienced quarterback. ___ AP NFL:

Jets QB Justin Fields carted off practice field with apparent leg injury, reports say
Jets QB Justin Fields carted off practice field with apparent leg injury, reports say

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Jets QB Justin Fields carted off practice field with apparent leg injury, reports say

The New York Jets officially have their first injury scare of the summer, and it's a big one. Starting QB Justin Fields was carted to the locker room after limping off the field Thursday morning with an apparent lower leg injury during practice, according to multiple reports. What happened to Justin Fields? Fields reportedly pulled up during a play in team drills after an incompletion to tight end Jeremy Ruckert. After the throw, he sat on the ground momentarily before he limped off the field. Fields was being attended to by a trainer in the injury tent before he sat in the passenger seat of a cart and eventually walked into the facility. While the severity is still unknown, this could have massive implications if Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract in free agency this offseason, was to miss an extended period of time during training camp, preseason or worst-case scenario if it was something that sidelined him until the regular season or further into the future. Once Fields headed to the locker room, backup QB Tyrod Taylor took over first team snaps for the Jets. This article originally appeared on Justin Fields injury: Jets QB carted off practice field with apparent leg injury

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store