MASON, OHIO — Former world No. 1 and seven-time main singles champion Venus Williams stated she was unsure about her future past the upcoming US Open however teased she wasn’t achieved with the game simply but.
“I am very a lot within the second,” Williams stated when requested about subsequent season. “I do not assume you need to ever rule me out. That is all I can say.”
Talking at a information convention on Wednesday forward of the Cincinnati Open, wherein she acquired a wild card for entry, the 45-year-old Williams stated the main target of her most up-to-date return was on the North American summer time hard-court season and did not imagine she would play in another occasions in 2025. She has acquired a wild card to play within the newly-revamped combined doubles match, alongside fellow American Reilly Opelka, and is predicted to obtain a wild card to play within the singles draw as properly. Wild playing cards for the 12 months’s ultimate main are anticipated to be introduced subsequent week.
Earlier than returning to competitors ultimately month’s Citi Open in Washington D.C., Williams had not performed since March of 2024, fueling hypothesis she had retired from the game. She has since revealed she underwent surgical procedure to take away uterine fibroids final August. She informed reporters she was unable to even rise up straight and strolling was difficult throughout her early restoration. She stated she was “nowhere close to taking part in skilled tennis” on the time. When she returned to the apply courtroom, she wasn’t centered on a proper comeback.
“I feel tennis is at all times behind my head, however I felt like I had time,” Williams stated. “As unusual as that sounds, I felt like I had time simply to get properly and once I was on the courtroom, I used to be at all times engaged on my recreation. I did not simply go and let all of it crumble, even when it was only a half-an-hour, simply attempt to get one thing out of it. And there is clearly, it is no secret that you simply get nice legs and nice arms with tennis, so I figured I’ll as properly at the least preserve my determine. That is the very least we do.”
Williams gained her first-round match on the 500-level occasion in July with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Peyton Stearns to nice fanfare, and was victorious in her opening-round doubles match with accomplice Hailey Baptiste. Williams known as the fan response to her return and her efficiency “so candy and so motivating.” She added she had been shocked by the eye the false announcement of her receiving a wild card to Indian Wells in March had gotten. She known as her participation “faux information” on Wednesday however nonetheless appeared touched by the reception it had acquired.
“I used to be in Europe, I could not even be within the space,” Williams stated. “I used to be like, ‘I want I might play. I am simply not there.’ And I simply bear in mind everybody was so pleased that I felt unhappy to let everybody down and say, ‘I am not taking part in.’ I used to be like, ‘I do not wish to break anybody’s coronary heart. I am sorry it is not actual and I am going to not be there.'”
Williams stated that sort of help from the followers has impressed her on courtroom to “give that very same love again with my efficiency” on the courtroom, however insisted she did not want any further motivation. “I’ve at all times performed for me,” she added.
Williams made her skilled debut in 1994 and gained her first main singles title at Wimbledon in 2000. All through her profession, she’s gained 49 singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside youthful sister Serena, two combined doubles crowns, and 5 Olympic medals, together with 4 golds. Serena, a 23-time main singles champion, retired from skilled tennis in 2022.
At the moment ranked No. 643, Williams will play Jessica Bouzas Maneiro within the first spherical on the Cincinnati Open.