Venus Williams to make historic US Open comeback at 45

New York, Aug 14 (AP) Venus Williams is making a remarkable return to the professional tennis circuit at 45, preparing for her U.S. Open comeback next week. This marks her first Grand Slam involvement in two years.

The U.S. Tennis Association extended Williams a wild-card entry for singles on Wednesday. She becomes the oldest competitor in the event at New York since Renee Richards, who participated at 47 in 1981. Williams has also been granted a wild-card in mixed doubles.

A Legacy Engraved in Tennis History

Venus Williams' accolades are impressive: seven Grand Slam singles titles, 14 in women’s doubles alongside her sister Serena, two in mixed doubles, and the record of five Olympic tennis medals.

A Glimpse Back at a Stellar Career

Williams, born in Lynwood, California, debuted on the pro scene in 1994 at age 14, during the WTA tournament in Oakland. She marked a victorious debut against Shaun Stafford, overcoming her 6-3, 6-4, but was edged out by Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the second round.

Her Grand Slam debut was in the 1997 French Open, making an early impression by reaching round two. Not long after, she powered through to the U.S. Open final, only to be halted by Martina Hingis.

Memorable Milestones

The Williams sisters’ competitive spirit came to the fore at the 1998 Australian Open, where Venus clinched a second-round victory over Serena. They’ve faced off 31 times as professionals, with Serena eclipsing Venus 19-12 in their overall matchup and 11-5 in Slam showdowns. They celebrated their first women's doubles Grand Slam win together at the 1999 French Open, also seizing the U.S. Open that very year.

In 2000, Venus adorned the Wimbledon stage with her first Grand Slam singles triumph over Lindsay Davenport, becoming the first Black woman to lift the trophy since Althea Gibson in the 1950s. The Williams sisters, having marked the history of tennis as the first sisters to win major singles titles, were just starting their trail of victories.

Williams earned Wimbledon glory four more times, in 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2008, besides her notable run at the Olympics — bagging golds in singles and doubles in 2000, followed by doubles victories in 2008 and 2012, and a silver medal in mixed doubles in 2016 with Rajeev Ram.

A Battle Against Challenges and Triumphs

The historic Williams vs. Williams Grand Slam final showdown in 2001 saw Venus trump her sister Serena for her second U.S. Open title. From 2002-2003, their riveting sibling rivalry graced four consecutive Slam finals, with Serena clinching all four victories. Ascending to No. 1 in the WTA rankings for the first time in February 2002, Venus held the spot for 11 weeks.

However, the journey wasn't without trials. In 2011, Venus announced her battle with Sjögren's syndrome, a debilitating auto-immune disease. Despite these challenges, she experienced a career resurgence in 2016-17, contesting in the finals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.

A Triumphant Return

The past years have witnessed Venus grappling with health setbacks, culminating in surgery for uterine fibroids last year, and a 16-month hiatus from the tour. Nonetheless, she returned to the court at the DC Open this July, celebrating wins in both singles and doubles. Despite recent challenges in top-tier tournaments, particularly her exits in the initial Slam rounds, Venus remains a tour-de-force — a testament to her enduring spirit and grace on the tennis court. (AP) AM AM AM

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