Venus Williams, the 45-year-old tennis legend, returned to Grand Slam singles action at the 2025 U.S. Open and found herself overwhelmed with emotion during her post-match reflections. Her first-round exit at Arthur Ashe Stadium against 11th-seeded Karolína Muchová may mark her final appearance of the season—but for her, the significance of returning healthy eclipsed the result.
A Return Built on Resilience
Williams, who had been sidelined for 16 months due to uterine fibroid surgery and complications from Sjögren’s syndrome, described her comeback as more than just returning to competition. “I think for me, getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy,” she said, her voice catching with emotion. “When you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind … you get stuck in your mind too. So it was nice to be freer.”
She praised her three-month training regimen, saying she and her team “literally took no days off. I haven’t gone to dinner. I haven’t seen friends. I haven’t done anything except train for three months as hard as I could.”
Williams’ return sparked a jubilant response from the crowd. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a crowd that much on my side,” she remarked, visibly touched. “I knew going into this match that people in this stadium, people in the United States, people around the world, were really rooting for me.”
Beyond the Scoreboard
Williams’ loss—6-3, 2-6, 6-1—was more than the end of a match. At 45, she became the oldest woman to compete in the U.S. Open singles main draw since 1981. The earlier rounds showcased her moments of vintage form, particularly in a strong second set that she took with aggressive net play.
The match spotlighted her competitive spirit as much as her vulnerability. Muchová expressed admiration, calling Williams “a legend” and noting “it was an honor to share a court with her.”
To Williams, this return captured both a personal and professional triumph. She noted the difference from past attempts: “When I think about the match I played against her in 2020, I was so uncomfortable. I wasn’t well. I was in so much pain. Today it’s night and day how much better I felt.”
While she expressed uncertainty about future travel for international tournaments, particularly as the tour moves to Asia, many believe this could be her final Grand Slam appearance. Nonetheless, she demurred retirement talk, saying, “I don’t think you should ever rule me out.”