Venus Williams, 45, set for return to tennis at Citi Open | The Express Tribune

After a 16-month absence from the court and a challenging health setback, Venus Williams is ready to make her return to tennis.

The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion will compete in the Citi Open in Washington, DC, accepting a wild card into the WTA 500 event. Her first match will be against fellow American Peyton Stearns on Tuesday, July 22.

Williams, whose last WTA Tour appearance was at the 2024 Miami Open, has been practising on hard courts and believes the DC event is the perfect setting for her return.

Speaking to the press at a WTA event, Williams said: “I don’t usually take up wild card offers but this time, I’d been hitting the ball, and I love the game, especially on hard courts. It’s my favourite surface and where I feel most comfortable.”

The five-time Wimbledon champion, who had surgery last year to remove fibroids, is focused on enjoying the experience rather than putting pressure on herself.

“My goal right now is to have fun and enjoy the moment,” Williams said. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Success, for me, is about believing in myself and sticking to my process after a long break.”

Williams, whose last tour win came in August 2023 when she defeated Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati Open, is aiming for her first win since then.

“I still feel I’ll play well,” she said. “I’m still the same player. I hit big – that’s my brand. The goal is to put the ball in the court.”

Though Williams hasn’t played a full season since 2019, where she finished with a solid 19-15 record at the age of 39, she has played just 37 matches over the past six years, winning only seven.

Her return this week marks a significant moment in the career of one of tennis’s most enduring stars.