Venus Williams Makes It Clear That Returning to Tennis is Not About ‘Proving Anyone Wrong’

Venus Williams has become the oldest player on the WTA Tour since 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova to win a singles match.

Venus Williams Makes It Clear That Returning to Tennis is Not About ‘Proving Anyone Wrong’

Venus Williams (Image via Served with Andy Roddick)

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Venus Williams is back on court- for the Citi Open, her first tournament since the 2024 Miami Open, where she suffered a first-round exit. Williams has secured a tour-level singles win for the first time since the 2023 Cincinnati Open.

On July 22, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion defeated Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 to become the oldest woman after a then 47-year-old Martina Navratilova to win a main draw match. The 18-time Grand Slam champion had achieved this at the 2004 Wimbledon.

Williams will script history if she reaches the final and wins the title. If she is successful in doing so, she will become the oldest woman to win a WTA title, surpassing Billie Jean King’s record. King had won the 1983 Edgbaston Cup at the age of 39.

So what did Williams want to prove by winning a match at this stage of her career? She wanted to prove nothing – because her goal at this point is to enjoy her time on tennis courts as much as she can.

No, because I’m not here for anyone else except for me, and I also have nothing to prove. Zip, zero. I’m here for me because I want to be here. And proving anyone wrong or thinking about anyone has never gotten me a win and has never gotten me a loss. No one has put in the work for me. I put in the work. So it doesn’t matter what anyone says.

Venus Williams said at the press conference

The five-time Wimbledon singles champion will next be locking horns with Polish player Magdalena Frech, who eliminated Yuliia Starodubtseva. A win over Frech could pit her against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals.

She could also meet two-time Citi Open champion Jessica Pegula if she reaches the semifinals. Williams has never locked horns with Rybakina and the 2024 US Open runner-up in her career.

Venus Williams jokes she made her return to tennis for insurance

Why did Venus Williams return to tennis at this stage of her career? It’s the question she is often asked in interviews. Williams has finally stated the real reason- to continue to keep her health care coverage. She revealed that this year, she is on COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), which has allowed her to continue her health insurance coverage only for a limited time.

Venus Williams
Venus Williams (Image via X/Tennis Channel)

I had to come back for the insurance. They informed me this year that I’m on COBRA, so it’s like, I got to get my benefits on…started training…Insurance, you guys know what it’s like. And let me tell you, I’m always at the doctor’s. So, I need this insurance.

Williams also revealed that her fiancé, Andrea Preti, also encouraged her to play tennis. It’s uncertain whether she will play the Canadian Open or the Cincinnati masters.

Williams is also playing doubles with compatriot Hailey Baptiste. They have secured the first-round win over the pair of Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue and are scheduled to play second seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai next.

Williams hasn’t won a title since the 2016 Taiwan Open. Since that match, she has reached a tour-level singles final four times but was unsuccessful in winning the title. The last time she progressed to a final was at the 2017 WTA Finals, losing the match to Caroline Wozniacki.

She last won a Grand Slam title at the 2008 Wimbledon and made it to a Major final for the last time at the 2017 Wimbledon. Williams is going to a Major once again- at least for the mixed doubles. She has paired up with compatriot Reilly Opelka. Williams is a two-time singles champion at Flushing Meadows (2000 and 2001).

Also read: Venus Williams Reveals Her Signature Wave and Twirl Celebration is Inspired by Anne Hathaway’s ‘The Princess Diaries’