Chris Oddo| @thefanchild | Sunday, July 20, 2025
Venus Williams,45, there are many reasons to go beyond professional tennis and take advantage of many creative and entrepreneurial opportunities she can now take advantage of. But she couldn’t help but fight against her sports elites at least this week at Mubadara Citi in Washington, D.C.
Williams has been awarded a wildcard for the main draw since the 2024 Miami Open and will face Peyton Stearns in her first game, explaining her decision to play: “Why not?”
American Idol addressed the media at a pre-match press conference on Sunday and exuded wisdom in a quick clip.
“It’s incredible,” she said, when asked about the feeling of inspiring the next generation of talent in the United States. “In fact, this is not what I thought would happen in the lives of young people. I wanted to play games and be a champion. I really liked this game and I didn’t realize it would be much bigger than myself and seeing these young women do positive things in their lives, win games, win tournaments, and inspire the next generation.
She completed the declaration with a very Venus verdict:
“It’s like icing on the cake, top with cherries with nuts and all the fixings. You know, it’s pretty.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbncsmam-ym
Does she miss tennis? That’s why she returns this week? not necessarily.
“I’m not a person I miss a lot,” she said. “I have a lot of things to do, keeping me so busy that I don’t know if I have time to miss anything, but I do know that when I went to Wimbledon this year, I spent the day there and it was so beautiful and exciting, and I always remembered all the time I was playing adrenaline, all of these things, I’m going to challenge your challenge, it’s your challenge, it’s your challenge, it’s your challenge, it’s your opponent, the conditions, a lot of times you have to overcome yourself.
“These things are very exciting. So I think it might be just a challenge to all of this.”
Williams may want to get a wildcard at the U.S. Open, but as she said several times in a press conference, she prefers to hold the card tightly against the vest.
“I’m just here now, who knows, maybe there’s more,” she said. “Like I said, I’ve closed the card, but for the moment I’m just focusing on this and I haven’t played for a year. I can play tennis without a doubt, but obviously, coming back to play, it takes time to get into the swing of things.”
This brings us to the next question. After many health issues, can she be effective on the tennis court at her age? Williams hasn’t won a match since 2023, and has won only six of her 26 games since early 2021.
It doesn’t matter to fans who just want to catch a glimpse of the legend, but Williams feels she has the ability to play victorious tennis.
“I’d definitely think I’d play well. I’m still the same player. I’ve played big,” she said with a smile. “This is my brand. So it’s about hitting big and actually. So it’s my effort. Put it on the court. That’s my main goal.
More importantly, be part of the game she likes and continue to wave flags for women’s tennis. Remember, Venus played a key role in getting equal women’s bonuses in Wimbledon nearly two decades ago. She has been advocating the women’s game ever since and isn’t ready to stop – at least not yet.
“I always have a great responsibility to promote tennis and promote women’s sports. I think this generation cannot forget women, we still have a lot to fight for, and having a role model is so important.
“Of course, I fell in love with tennis, so having the opportunity to own this platform and promote the game is a great opportunity even now.”
In the first round of DC, it will be Venus Williams vs Peyton Stearns. pic.twitter.com/bxxopsfthf
– Tennis (@tennis_now) July 20, 2025
