NEW YORK – Much of the coverage and attention dedicated to her return to the US Open, where play begins Sunday, will focus on how old she is. Americans, after all, are 45 years old, and since 1981, no one has been in the singles in New York (when René Richards set a record at the age of 47).
In itself, it is worth noting.
Still, there’s more to be important about her first appearance in her first Grand Slam tournament in two years, regardless of how Williams plays at Arthur Ash Stadium with two-time French open runner-up in New York, Karolina Mankova.
All of this happens 16 months after Williams played official matches everywhere and shortly after returning to tour less than a year after undergoing surgery for his fibroids.
Venus Williams is taking part in the Grand Slam tournament for the first time in two years
“It’s really, I’m just going to say I’m inspiring,” said 27-year-old Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion. “My only thing is, I really don’t like how every headline refers to her age. …We all know how old she is.
Williams and her sister Serena, whose final professional match came in 2022 at the Flushing Meadows, represents an indelible chapter in tennis history.
They have made everything more than mere scores and statistics, and beyond, beyond just a poor ledger of victory, Venus’ famous position in favor of equal prize money for women at Wimbledon.
“She’s one of the greatest athletes of all time,” said Francisti Afo, a two-time US open semi-finalist. “She and her sister are not only perfect for women’s games, but also very iconic for women’s sports.”
Their story repeats. Two brothers were first taught tennis by their self-taught fathers, both of whom not only reached the professional tour, but also reached number one in the rankings and won the most important trophies in global sports.
“People, I guess,” Osaka said, “We should cherish them a little more.”
Osaka grew up watching Williams’ sisters and then competed with them.
So did many other women, such as Kokogoff, who first announced to the world by defeating Wimbledon in 2019 at Wimbledon. After that match, Gouf thanked reporters, saying, “To everything she did,” and saying, “If she wasn’t here, I wouldn’t be here.”
“She had a huge impact. … It’s so cool to see the legend still playing. “It’s not that what people are saying is wrong, but that’s because she really loves sports. You can see her kids. I love it.”
Certainly, when asked why she plays, Williams replied: “Why not?”
Williams collected five singles trophies at Wimbledon and won US Open in 2000 and 2001. This is the event that returned with the Flushing Meadows this week with 14 grand slam titles of women’s doubles (all along with Serena) and two mixed doubles.
Since Williams’ sisters came to the scene, Venus made his professional debut in 1994 at the age of 14. Serena, 15 months younger, quickly followed, and was given 23 major single titles.
Last month in Washington, Williams takes pride in finding out that three black women were competing in court when she played in a doubles match in the first event of her comeback.
“It’s amazing to know that African American girls can play tennis right now. It’s an option, and it’s an opportunity for them to be there, no matter what their abilities,” she said.
