Venus Williams makes long-awaited Grand Slam return at US Open

Venus Williams returned to Grand Slam competition on Monday night at the US Open, playing her first major match in two years against 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Williams, 45, is the oldest singles player at the tournament since Renee Richards in 1981. This marked Williams' 94th Grand Slam appearance, the most by any woman in the Open Era.



Facing a difficult draw, she opened slowly against Muchova, dropping 11 of the first 13 points and trailing 0-2. Urged on by chants of 'Let’s go, Venus', the seven-time Grand Slam champion briefly turned the momentum, winning three straight games to lead 3-2, before Muchova closed the first set 6-3.

The Czech, seeded No. 11, has been a consistent performer in New York, reaching the semifinals in 2023 and 2024, including a memorable match against eventual champion Coco Gauff last year.

Williams’ own history at Flushing Meadows is illustrious. She lifted the US Open trophy in 2000 and 2001, part of her seven major singles titles, along with five Wimbledon crowns. In doubles, she partnered her sister Serena to 14 Grand Slam titles and added two more in mixed doubles. She also holds a record five Olympic tennis medals and once reached the top of the WTA rankings.

Since turning professional in 1994, Williams has become one of the sport’s defining figures, alongside Serena, who retired at the 2022 US Open after winning 23 major singles titles.

Williams had been sidelined for 16 months before resuming play at a Washington tournament last month, following surgery for uterine fibroids in 2024. She received wild cards into both singles and mixed doubles in New York. Her last singles win at the US Open came in 2019; since then she has exited in the opening round of her four appearances.