by Venus Williams will return from a 16-month release at DC Open this week.
The 45-year-old American survived a serious range of health last year and decided to accept a wildcard to the US capital tournament, the first hardcourt tuneu for the US Open.
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“I think I know what I want to do, but I don’t always want to talk about it,” said Williams. “I’m just here now. And who knows? Maybe there is more. I keep my cards nearby, but at the moment I’m just concentrating on it.”
Williams opens against 23-year-old American Peyton Stearns, who takes 34th place in the world. Stearns won her only WTA title on Clay in Rabat last year.
The older sister of 23-fold Grand Slam-Singles master Serena Williams has not played since a defeat in Miami last year.
“My personal goal is to have fun and enjoy the moment not to put too much pressure on myself,” said Venus Williams.
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“I don’t know if I define success in any way at this moment than to believe in myself and to stick to my process. It is not easy, especially after discharge. So these are my goals.”
Venus Williams, the Olympic champion of 2000 Sydney, won five Wimbledon singles and two US Open Crowns.
The last of her 49 WTA title took place in 2019 at the Taiwan Open. That was the last year in which she played a complete tour plan.
“I definitely feel that I will play well,” said Williams. “I’m still the same player. I am a big bat. I did big. This is my brand.
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“So it’s about beating up and actually doing it. That will be my efforts. Set it in the field. This is my main goal.”
A year ago, tennis was anything but the most important in her head.
“Yes, my health trip was very scary. You know, a year ago I prepared for an operation,” she said. “There was no way for me to play tennis or play the US Open … I just tried to get well.
“I went through a lot in the last year, so it is a great opportunity to come back and play and hopefully enjoy me.”
– ‘fun of the challenge’ –
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Williams felt good enough to accept a wildcard, and a visit to Wimbledon added some inspiration.
“I had hit the ball and of course I love the game and hard places. It is my favorite surface, which I feel. So all of these different factors,” said Williams about her decision to play in Washington.
“When I went to Wimbledon this year, I was there for a day and it was so beautiful and exciting. I remembered all the times I had, and of course the adrenaline, all of these things.
“I think just the pure fun of playing the game, the fun of the challenge. These things are very exciting.”
The seven Slam singles titles by Williams correspond to the rest of the Washington Field, which includes the four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka from Japan.
JS/IWD
