Venus Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, rebuffed retirement rumors last year, stating, “I’m not done with the racket yet.” True to her word, she has yet to officially retire. Her last appearance on the court was at the Miami Open last year where she suffered a defeat at the hands of the young Russian talent, Diana Shnaider. A series of injuries has kept her off the court since then. However, she recently reignited hopes among her fans after she was spotted practicing near her hometown. To add fuel to the speculation, Venus posted a nostalgic photo from her prime athletic years, stirring significant chatter on social media. Could this be a hint at her possible return?
At the end of the current month, Venus Williams will lose her ranking, and her WTA Tour profile will transition from purple to grey, a symbol of her inactive status after a year without competition. The former World No. 1 seems to be on the brink of retirement, but rumors of her come back persist. She was extended a wildcard offer from the Indian Wells earlier this year, but she turned it down due to other commitments. The offer was also extended for the second phase of the Sunshine Double, the Miami Open, but Venus chose to decline.
Venus Williams was recently seen back in action, training with her former doubles partner, Ons Jabeur, on Court 13 outside Hard Rock Stadium. Her involvement in practice sessions in her South Florida residence has renewed speculation about her future in tennis. Adding to the mystery, the five-time Wimbledon champion posted a nostalgic picture, hinting that her tennis journey may still be in progress.
Venus posted a throwback picture on Instagram featuring her sister and fellow tennis superstar, Serena Williams. The photo, seemingly from their early years playing at the prestigious Wimbledon tournament, showcased the duo in their element at the renowned All-England Club. The caption, “Seeing doubles,” tagged to Serena, has created a buzz among fans.
In the past year, Venus only participated in two WTA Tour events: Indian Wells and Miami. Her last Grand Slam appearance was at the 2023 US Open, and her most recent victory at any level was against Veronika Kudermetova in Cincinnati, just weeks prior. Williams last played a full season in 2019, an impressive feat considering she was already 39 and dealing with the effects of Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition known to cause fatigue and joint pain.
Despite the challenges, history has demonstrated that age is not an obstacle to competition. Martina Navratilova won a singles match at Wimbledon at 47. Venus will be 45 just two weeks before Wimbledon on June 17 this year. If anyone can defy the odds, it’s the Williams sisters.
Venus’ absence from the tour is not simply a matter of her selecting tournaments based on her schedule. Sjogren’s syndrome has been a significant hurdle in the later stages of her career, affecting her ability to consistently compete on tour.
In 2004, after winning four Grand Slam titles, Venus began experiencing unexplained exhaustion and shortness of breath. In a 2019 interview with Prevention.com, the former World No. 1 spoke about the challenging situation, revealing how her worsening symptoms eventually forced her to step away from professional tennis. It took seven years before Venus received a diagnosis of Sjogren’s syndrome, despite regular medical consultations. The delay in identifying her illness resulted in significant physical deterioration and an unexpected halt in her career.
After her recent practice session in Miami, is it possible that Venus will return to the court soon, perhaps at Wimbledon? Only time will tell. But for now, her fans are excited at the possibility of seeing her back in action.
