Venus Williams is set to take the court Monday night for her record-extending 25th US Open singles appearance, entering as a 45-year-old wildcard ranked No. 610 and facing Czech ninth seed Karolína Muchová, a two-time New York semifinalist who was runner-up at the 2023 French Open.
Her presence carries more than just the spectacle of longevity. Williams is the oldest singles competitor at America’s national championships since Renée Richards did it four decades ago, a milestone that sits beside the tournament’s famed Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of the event’s enduring iconography. She first appeared here as a 17-year-old in 1997, a year that also marked the completion of Ashe Stadium. Then an unseeded rookie in the Open era, she reached the final before falling to Martina Hingis, setting a precedent for resilience that she continues to live out.
Across a career that has yielded seven Grand Slam singles titles—five at Wimbledon and two at the US Open—alongside 14 doubles majors, Williams has ruled the sport for years. She has been world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, captured four Olympic gold medals, and accumulated roughly $43 million in prize money, with countless more from endorsements and other ventures. Her global profile extends beyond tennis; she’s long been a defining presence in the conversation about equality in sport, and her name sits at the intersection of sport, culture, and social progress.
Her return comes after a 16-month pause that included uterine fibroid surgery and a long stretch of self-doubt. She resurfaced in July at the Washington Open, where she drew overflow crowds—including NBA star Kevin Durant—and defeated Peyton Stearns, the world No. 35. That victory offered a spark—proof that her aggressive, first-strike game—big serve, flat groundstrokes, and all-court ambition—still carries real bite.
Off the court, Williams has also begun a new personal chapter. She confirmed last month that she is engaged to Italian actor-producer Andrea Preti, crediting him with encouraging her through the grind of training and recovery. “My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” she said after beating Stearns, which made her the oldest player to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004. The couple’s growing public appearances—along the Amalfi Coast and in Milan—have added a different spotlight to Williams’s comeback, signaling a shift in tone for a player who once fielded questions about life beyond tennis with grace and wit.
For much of the past two years, many observers wondered whether Williams would quietly bow out. The era’s rhetoric around her sister Serena’s farewell and the exits of Federer, Nadal, and Sharapova seemed to mark the end of an epoch. Yet Venus pushed back against that narrative, insisting that tennis remains in her bloodstream. “I think I’ll always play tennis,” she said recently. “It’s in my DNA. So it doesn’t matter if it’s now or 30 years from now … tennis will always be one of the most important parts of my life.”
If history provides a guide, Williams’s age and the rust of time may pose a stern test. Since reaching the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals in 2017, her on-court activity has tapered, and she hasn’t won a US Open match since 2019. Wildcard entries, though, are a reminder that sport’s door remains open to those who have given the game so much. Muchová, with her varied game and high tennis IQ, will test Williams’s timing and rhythm—an upset would surprise many, but the veteran is not approaching the match with fear. “Hit it too hard, it goes out,” she joked about her current form. “So I’m going to try to hit less hard so it goes in. But the good news is I’m having fun controlling the points. It’s a great game style for me.”
Support for Williams has come from all corners of the sport. Retired U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick defended the wildcard decision, arguing that Williams’s presence is a gift to the game and that deserving players don’t rely on entitlement. “If you’re deserving, you don’t need a wildcard,” he said, but he added that Williams’s impact on tennis and society transcends such debates. Her peers, too, have lauded her for redefining what it means to compete at the highest level with longevity and grace.
As the play on Ashe unfolds, Williams’s aim is clear: to be her personal best, focus on the process, and enjoy the competition. She may not be chasing a record-tying title this week as much as she is chasing the experience—the thrill of stepping into the lights of the sport’s largest stage and proving that passion, preparation, and purpose can outlast the clock. She’s been candid about the fact that she doesn’t plan a glossy exit tour; if the moment comes, she may simply slip away quietly, leaving a final impression that is as much about influence as it is about victories.
One more night on Ashe, one more chance to swing freely under the stadium lights. For Williams, the journey isn’t just about a match played or a result earned; it’s about sustaining the essence of a career that has inspired generations of players and fans alike. “Super thrilling to be back,” she said. “It does not get old. It just gets more exciting.”
Summary
Venus Williams returns to the US Open for a 25th singles appearance at age 45, facing Muchová with the weight of history and a real shot at writing another memorable chapter in a career defined by resilience and influence. Her comeback from a long layoff and a personal engagement marks a broader moment for tennis—a sport that continues to honor its legends while inviting new generations to witness their enduring impact.
Notes for added value
– Williams’s continued presence highlights both longevity in sport and the ongoing conversation about gender and race in tennis, reinforcing the US Open’s role as a platform for broader cultural milestones.
– Watch points for the match: Williams’s serve remains a key weapon, but assessing her movement and decision-making under pressure will be crucial against Muchová’s varied shot-making and tempo control.
– The match could carry inspirational significance beyond the scoreboard, illustrating how athletes adapt, persevere, and redefine what is possible with dedication and support.