Venus Williams is back on the tennis tour, due to return to the sport this week at the Washington Open.
It marked a real surprise for fans to see the 45-year-old announce her re-emergence.
After all, it has been over a year since her last competitive match, losing in the first round of the 2024 Miami Open.
We have already learned that Peyton Stearns will be the lucky player who gets to share the court with a legend, with their match to be played on Tuesday. Venus will play before that though, partnering Hailey Baptiste in the doubles on Monday.
However, what we are yet to learn is why the seven-time Grand Slam champion has chosen now, in Washington, to return to tennis.
Venus has sought to shed some light on that.
Venus Williams explains why she has returned to tennis
However, her initial answer when asked about it was hardly enlightening.
“You have the world by the head,” one reporter started. “It’s hot, humid, you’re going to be grinding out there. Why? Why?”
Venus’ reply was simply: “Why not?”
Fortunately, she would expand upon this, with one statement earlier in the presser offering far more insight into why she has chosen now to play again.
She admitted: “Yeah, I feel like I have a joke with Mark every year. It’s like, he’s like, I have a wildcard for you. I’m like, maybe I’ll come. Most of the time I don’t.
“But this time I’ve been hitting the ball and, of course, I love the game, and the hard courts, it’s my favourite surface where I feel comfortable on, so all those different factors.”
Such is the legacy she has already left behind, there was huge fanfare when Coco Gauff equalled Venus Williams’ record with her French Open run earlier this year.
Venus Williams has earned the right to keep playing tennis
Even if it is just in random bursts, Venus Williams has earned the right more than most to pick and choose when she wants to play on the tour.
After all, she has accomplished nearly all there was to accomplish, and as such is very clearly only playing now for the love of the game.
Her presence in any event can only enhance its stature, as one of America’s greatest-ever tennis exports.
And so, Washington will be delighted that they were selected as the lucky event to host this particular comeback after so many months.
Whether she wins a few matches or not matters little, and it will just be a delight for another generation of fans to get to witness greatness before she does call time on her legendary career, whenever that may be.
