Venus Williams has delivered an encouraging return to competitive tennis after spending 16 months away from the sport.
The 45-year-old's impressive displays at the Washington Open have caught the attention of tennis fans. Her straight sets win over Peyton Stearns in the singles draw on Tuesday (July 22) saw her become the oldest player in 21 years to win a singles match on the WTA Tour.
Williams' doubles contest alongside Hailey Baptiste on Monday (July 21) was her first competitive tennis outing since the Miami Open in March 2024. Her and Baptiste were able to secure a straight sets win against Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue.
Now, Williams has received another major boost in her comeback story, as she has officially been awarded a wildcard entry spot in the main draw for the Cincinnati Open next month.
The tournament is among the 1000 Masters events and will give Williams an opportunity to prove she can still be competitive against the world's top female players.
A good showing in Cincinnati would increase Williams' chances of appearing at the year's final Grand Slam, the US Open, in late August.
The US Open holds great memories for Williams, as she has triumphed at the tournament in 2000 and 2001. Hence, another appearance at Flushing Meadows would be a special outing for the American seven-time major winner.
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After battling injuries in recent years, Williams was only content to return to the court once the time was right for her. She even turned down a wildcard invitation at Indian Wells earlier this year.
Williams' inspirational performances in Washington have shown she still carries the appetite to compete at a high level.
Despite crashing out of the doubles event with Baptiste in Washington on Wednesday (July 23), Williams will resume her singles quest in the US capital on Thursday (July 24), against Poland's Magdalena Frech.
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