MASON, OHIO — Former world No. 1 and seven-time main singles champion Venus Williams mentioned she was unsure about her future past the upcoming US Open however teased she wasn’t carried out with the game simply but.
“I am very a lot within the second,” Williams mentioned when requested about subsequent season. “I do not suppose 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, by which she acquired a wild card for entry, Williams, 45, mentioned the main focus 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 anticipated to obtain a wild card to play within the singles draw as properly. Wild playing cards for the 12 months’s last 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 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 instructed reporters she was unable to even arise straight and strolling was difficult throughout her early restoration. She mentioned she was “nowhere close to enjoying skilled tennis” on the time. When she returned to the apply courtroom, she wasn’t centered on a proper comeback.
“I believe tennis is all the time at the back of my head, however I felt like I had time,” Williams mentioned. “As unusual as that sounds, I felt like I had time simply to get properly and after I was on the courtroom, I used to be all the time 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 just get nice legs and nice arms with tennis, so I figured I’ll as properly at the very 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 associate Hailey Baptiste. Williams referred to as the fan response to her return and her efficiency “so candy and so motivating.” She added she had been stunned by the eye the false announcement of her receiving a wild card to Indian Wells in March had gotten. She referred to as her participation “pretend 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 mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘I want I may play. I am simply not there.’ And I simply keep in mind everybody was so comfortable that I felt unhappy to let everybody down and say, ‘I am not enjoying.’ I used to be like, ‘I do not need to break anybody’s coronary heart. I am sorry it isn’t actual and I am going to not be there.'”
Williams mentioned that form of help from the followers has impressed her to “give that very same love again with my efficiency” on the courtroom, however insisted she did not want any additional motivation. “I’ve all the time 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 has gained 49 singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside youthful sister Serena, 2 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 present ranked No. 643, Williams will play Jessica Bouzas Maneiro within the first spherical on the Cincinnati Open.