Tennis Great Venus Williams Accepts Dc Open Wild Card Invitation For First Tournament In Over A Year

Venus Williams will beryllium backmost connected the tennis courts erstwhile again aft past competing complete a twelvemonth ago. 

The seven-time Grand Slam champion accepted a chaotic paper invitation to compete astatine the DC Open later this month, marking her first tourney successful 16 months. 

Venus Williams, of nan United States, right, exits nan tribunal aft losing to Qinwen Zheng, of China, during nan Western & Southern Open astatine nan Lindner Family Tennis Center successful Mason connected Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Zheng won 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. (IMAGN)

She past competed astatine nan Miami Open successful 2024, wherever she was eliminated successful consecutive sets by 19-year-old Diana Shnaider. 

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"There's thing genuinely typical astir D.C.: nan energy, nan fans, nan history," Williams said successful a statement. "This metropolis has ever shown maine truthful overmuch love, and I can’t hold to compete location again!" 

Williams, who turned 45 past month, is listed arsenic an inactive subordinate connected nan WTA website, and she was past classed no. 970 successful 2024. Still, nan dressed up women’s tennis pro will return to nan nation’s superior adjacent Saturday for a chance to compete. 

Williams has won five Wimbledon titles and 2 U.S. Open titles.  (IMAGN)

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"We are truthful excited that Venus will beryllium playing successful nan Mubadala Citi DC Open this year," tourney president Mark Ein said successful a statement. 

"She has inspired group astir nan world pinch her accomplishments connected nan tribunal and her visionary effect disconnected nan court. I cognize really overmuch it intends to our D.C. fans and organization to beryllium capable to watch her compete successful personification this summer." 

Venus Williams of nan USA hits to Greet Minnen of Belgium connected time 2 of nan 2023 U.S. Open tennis tourney astatine nan USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center connected Aug. 29, 2023. (Robert Deutsch-USA Today Sports)

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Williams has won five Wimbledon titles and 2 U.S. Open titles. She besides won 16 Grand Slam titles successful doubles and mixed doubles and is simply a four-time Olympic golden medalist. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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