Venus Williams, a five-time champion who made her Wimbledon debut 26 years ago, will return to Centre Court on Monday. The 43-year-old American claimed she would even continue competing until she turns 50.
Before facing fellow wildcard Elina Svitolina, Williams told reporters, “It’s never been done, so if there is anyone who could do it, it would be me.”
Serena, who had 23 grand slam wins and was the best female player of the Open era, announced her retirement from the sport at the US Open the previous year. Venus, though, has persevered through injuries despite briefly dropping out of the top 1,000 in the rankings last year, and she has no intention of retiring any time soon like her younger sister.
She made an appearance in Auckland in January before taking a six-month break to heal from a hamstring injury. Since then, she has only played three games on grass, and she entered the All England Club with a rank of 554.
Venus Williams at the 2024 Birmingham Classic
The Grand Slams are what I value most. But you need to be strong. I don’t have a torch for anyone with me. To continue doing what I’ve always done is what drives me. I have accomplished something that few people do in life or anything else,” she remarked.
Williams thought of the differences in her experience and mental state between 1997 and 2024, when her adventure at Wimbledon first began.
Venus Williams gained enormous momentum before the 2024 Wimbledon Championships by triumphing over a top-50 opponent for the first time since late 2019. The Italian Camila Giorgi was defeated by the 43-year-old participant in the 2024 Birmingham Classic in the first round, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (6), in a contest that lasted three hours and sixteen minutes. In a second-round three-setter against eventual winner Jelena Ostapenko, Williams was defeated.
However, the five-time Wimbledon Champion, who has only five matches this year, is showing promise by remaining competitive and competing against great players.
No pressure on Swiatek
Iga Swiatek, the defending French Open winner and current world number one, competes on the opening day of the competition when she faces China’s Zhu Lin. The Pole claimed that after crumbling under the weight of the top ranking in 2022 and losing in the third round, she is better equipped for the grasscourt swing this year.
Fans will also watch one of their favorites, last year’s runner-up Nick Kyrgios, as he fights against Goffin in 2024, when the unpredictable Australian returns from knee surgery with just one match under his belt before his battle against David Goffin. Four Americans will compete against each other: fourth seed Jessica Pegula will play Lauren Davis, while seventh seed Coco Gauff will face off against Sofia Kenin.
