Venus Williams Set for Professional Tennis Comeback at DC Open

Tennis legend Venus Williams will make her return to the professional circuit later this month, competing as a wild card entrant at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C. The tournament, a WTA 500 event, is scheduled for July 21–27.

Venus Williams, 45, is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and Olympic gold medalist. Her participation, confirmed by the Women’s Tennis Association, marks her first match in over a year. She last competed on the WTA tour at the Miami Open in March 2024.

“There’s something truly special about DC: the energy, the fans, the history,” Williams said in a press release from tournament organizers. “This city has always shown me so much love, and I can’t wait to compete there again.”

Mark Ein, chairman of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, welcomed the news, noting Williams’s influence both on and off the court. “She has inspired people around the world with her accomplishments on the court and her visionary impact off the court,” he said. “I know how much it means to our DC fans and community to be able to watch her compete in person this summer.”

Williams’s last Grand Slam appearance came in 2023, when she exited early at both Wimbledon and the US Open. The upcoming DC Open will feature a strong field, with players such as Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu also expected to participate.

Beyond tennis, Venus Williams continues to expand her professional pursuits. She is set to co-host a new podcast with her sister, Serena Williams, titled “Unfiltered Truth,” launching in August 2025 on the X platform (formerly Twitter).