(Video) Venus Williams surprisingly spotted at Miami Open after prolonged absence from WTA tour

Venus Williams last played a WTA event at the 2024 Miami Open where she was defeated by Diana Shnaider in the first round.

(Video) Venus Williams surprisingly spotted at Miami Open after prolonged absence from WTA tour

Venus Williams spotted practicing with Ons Jabeur at Miami Open (Image via Tennis Channel)

The Miami Open is underway at Miami Gardens. On Wednesday (March 19), fans got a glimpse of a tennis tennis legend practicing on one of the courts. It was Venus Williams of course. She lives in Florida where the best tennis players from across the world have come to participate in the fourth WTA 1000 tournament.

Williams was seen practicing outside of Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium with three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur, who the American has met on the WTA Tour once at the 2021 Wimbledon fourth round, the result of which came in favor of the Tunisian. In the video, which is doing rounds on social media, Williams is seen talking and laughing with Jabeur before practicing.

YouTube video

Watch the video here:

FS Video

Williams and Jabeur have not joined hands for doubles. The 30-year-old is only featuring in singles and the 31st will kick start her campaign against Katerina Siniakova on Thursday (March 20).

Williams has lifted three Miami Open titles. She won her first in 1998 and defended her crown the following year. Williams last lifted the title in the second leg of the Sunshine Double in 2001.

The 44-year-old, who is ranked No. 1,151, is to call time on her career. She will be considered an inactive player after March as she has not played a tournament since the 2024 Miami Open. If Williams wants to make her comeback, she may choose the third Grand Slam of the season, Wimbledon where she has lifted five singles titles.

Venus Williams reportedly rejected wild card for Miami Open

Venus Williams was offered a wild card for this season’s Indian Wells without her having any idea of it. This happened due to miscommunication and Williams, upon being asked to comment on it, said that she never intended to play the tournament.

Venus Williams (2)
Venus Williams (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

Due to many requests to make her comeback, Williams almost decided to play the third WTA 1000 of the year but chose not to since she had prior commitments. The BNP Paribas Open then took to their social media handles to address the confusion.

Now reports have emerged that Williams was offered a wild card for the Miami Open as well. She thought about it a couple of times before deciding to reject it.

When was the last time Venus Williams played a WTA match?

Venus Williams hasn’t yet participated in a WTA event since the 2024 Miami Open. The second event of the Sunshine Double was the second tournament she played that year following the Indian Wells.

Venus Williams
Venus Williams (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

In the California desert, where she also played her first match since the 2023 US Open first round, Williams faced a three-set defeat to Nao Hibino. In the Miami Open, the five-time Wimbledon singles winner fell to a straight-set defeat to Diana Shnaider.

While her last appearance was at last year’s Miami Open, her last victory came against Veronika Kudermetova in the first round of the 2023 Cincinnati Open. The last time the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion played a full schedule was in 2019.

Williams last won a Grand Slam singles title in 2008 by beating sister and 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams in the final. She last reached a Major final in 2017 at the Australian Open which she lost to Serena. Serena bade her farewell to tennis in 2022 and became a businesswoman post-retirement.

Williams also recently made headlines over rumors of her engagement with boyfriend Andrea Preti as she was spotted wearing a diamond ring. As per those rumors, Preti, who is an actor and a director from Italy, proposed to her during their trip to the Bahamas. Williams, however, has yet to comment on it.