Earlier this month, Venus Williams, five time Wimbledon and two-time US Open champion, accepted a wildcard to enter the Women’s Singles main draw of the Mubadala Citi DC Open. After 16 months away from competition, what can we expect from her at the July 19 to 27 event?

The Legacy Factor?

Williams was born in Compton, California, in 1980 and relocated to West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 11 to pursue a career in tennis. She turned pro in 1994 at the age of 14 and won her first major title at Wimbledon in 2000. She later became the first Black woman to ever hold the throne of world number 1 in February 2002.

Partnering with her sister and fellow pro Serena Williams, the pair won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together. She also won the 1998 Australian Open and French Open mixed doubles championship, alongside a 21-year-old Justin Gimelstob. Venus Williams isn’t just a champion, she changed the game forever by making it faster, more athletic, and more competitive than ever before. Will this late return to the courts further esteem or tarnish her legacy as one of the best of all time?

Image Credit: Julie Edgley from Wikimedia Commons

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The Odds of Winning?

What’s certain, as a four-time Olympic gold medallist, Williams knows how to counter her opponents’ playing styles better than most, which can only fortify her game going forward. Currently, the beloved star has been training with Ons Jabeur, a three-time major finalist, in the Miami Open 2025, and appears to be moving sharply and hitting at the level of any current WTA player.

Nonetheless, a series of losses in the 2023 and 2024 seasons revealed that her average service speed is lower than it used to be, possibly due to age. Similarly, Novak Djokovic, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 38 in May, is struggling with a slowdown in footwork, despite still being known for his precise shot placement and strategic moves.

Whether the fruits of experience are what makes the difference for Williams as well, remains to be seen. Certainly, with players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek, leading the pack of the younger, faster new generation of players, Williams’ strategy is going to matter.

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The Opposition?

At eight years younger than Williams, 37 year-old Tatjana Maria is currently the oldest player ranked in the top 100 by the WTA. While Maria’s game has relied on slicing to conserve energy, Williams has always relied on the sheer power of her performance.

Whether that is enough for Williams to beat players like Maria, whose serve speed has also noticeably diminished over the past two years, or stronger, younger players like Sabalenka, is the question. Certainly, Williams' loss last Spring at the Miami Open straight sets (6-3, 6-3) against Russian player Diana Shnaider was undeniably due to an overall slower game, winning just 25% of her second serve points and only 39% of her return points.

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The Final Chapter?

With the European tournaments over and the North American hard-court season just beginning, what remains – two WTA 1000 tournaments and the US Open— are right in Williams' backyard. “There’s something truly special about DC: the energy, the fans, the history … I can’t wait to compete there again!” said Williams. Playing at home commonly gives athletes a source of power and confidence and Williams may be looking to the D.C. Open as a warm up for the US Open.

Either way, the excitement at Williams’ return is palpable, albeit a mix of enthusiasm and realism. “She’s a legend … But she’s 45 and hasn’t played in a long time. Even winning her first game would be doing well in that state.” Let the games begin!