4 days Ago
Venus Williams may not be putting her racket down just yet. Though the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion simply attended the Miami Open tournament last month as a spectator, she hasn’t ruled out returning to the sport as a competitor in the future. “It's actually pretty motivating to come back and see the competition,” Venus said in an April 1 recap video of her time at the WTA tournament.
“I loved this part of my life. People look at me like, ‘Are you playing? I’m like, ‘No, I’m not.’ And they're like, ‘When are you playing?’” And in response to that question of professional tennis being part of her future, she added, “I really don't have a plan for the first time in my life.
As an athlete and a player, there's a whole plan [like], ‘I'm gonna play this tournament and play these tournaments so I'd be ready for that tournament.’” The 44-year-old continued, “Now it's like, ‘Oh, I love playing. I'm gonna play every day.
’ And if I feel ready to play, then I'll play.” Later in the video recap, Venus—who helped out fellow tennis star Ons Jabeur get ready for the WTA tournament by being her hitting partner—teased her return even further. “I may not be in the draw, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help sharpen someone else’s game,” she shared.
“Let’s be honest, I’m still keeping my own game ready, just in case.” However, a “return” from Venus, who most recently played professionally at last year’s Miami Open, wouldn’t technically be her coming back. In fact, the Olympic gold medalist has never officially retired—a point she had to clarify following her sister Serena Williams ’ own retirement from the sport in 2022.
“As that moment gets closer, Serena ruined it for me,” Venus said in an interview shared to X (formerly Twitter) in October 2024. “Because as soon as she retired, everybody thought I retired.” But once that fateful day arrives, she knows exactly how she’ll feel.
“I always thought that I would be just crying when I had to retire, because it’s all you know and you spend your whole life programming your mind to do that every single day,” she explained. “It’s the first thing you think about when you wake up, the first thing when you go to bed. You dream about it.
” Venus added, “Now I realize that I won’t cry because I’ve definitely given everything to this sport. I think more than anything, I’ll be grateful. I think that will be the feeling.
” While Venus has given her life to the sport of tennis, many have soaked up her talent as fans. Read on to see all the stars that are tennis fans and attended the 2024 U.S.
Open tournament. Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce The two shared a sweet moment on day 14 of the tournament. Simone Biles The Olympic gymnast's attendance at the women's singles quarterfinal match was a perfect 10.
Bad Bunny Matthew McConaughey & Camila Alves McConaughey Laverne Cox The story the Live From E! host was telling with this outfit? That she was ready to watch some tennis at the U.S. Open.
Penn Badgley Jason Bateman The Arrested Development actor was captivated by the game on Sept. 4. Chord Overstreet The actor made a gleeful appearance at the Cadillac Suite on Zero Bond Night during the U.
S. Open. Justin Theroux & Nicole Brydon Bloom Dwyane Wade The former NBA player had a slam dunk of a night.
Orlando Bloom Yo ho, yo ho—it's the tennis life for the Pirates of the Caribbean star. Stephen Curry & Ayesha Curry Busy Philipps The Girls5eva star was pretty busy on Sept. 3, catching a match from the Maestro Dobel Tequila suite inside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Jason Sudeikis The Ted Lasso star was anything but a goldfish as he was interviewed in the stands on Sept. 2. Shonda Rhimes, Tony Goldwyn & Scott Foley A Scandal reunion at the U.
S. Open? It's handled. Cynthia Erivo & Lena Waithe The Wicked star and the Master of None actress were quite pop-u-lar on Sept.
2. Tommy Dorfman You don't need 13 reasons to hit up the Maestro Dobel Tequila suite inside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Just ask the actress.
Ellen Pompeo & Chris Ivery The Grey's Anatomy star and her husband aced their U.S. Open date on Sept.
1. Hugh Jackman The Greatest Showman star enjoyed a great showing of tennis on Aug. 31.
Grace Van Patten & Jackson White The Tell Me Lies couple stepped out for a date night on Aug. 31. Questlove It was love-all with the Roots musician inside the Moët & Chandon suite at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Yvonne Orji & Carmelo Anthony The Insecure star was anything but self-conscious when she snapped a selfie with the retired NBA player Aug. 29. Anna Chlumsky The Veep alum elected for a green plaid dress for her U.
S. Open outing. Arielle Kebbel The Vampire Diaries alum had a fang-tastic time inside the Heineken suite at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Taye Diggs The Private Practice actor was digging his Maestro Dobel Tequila cocktail before the start of a match. Jessica Biel The actress was in seventh heaven during a match on Aug. 28.
Ben Stiller & Christine Taylor The couple had a date night at the m̶u̶s̶e̶u̶m̶ court. Liz Gillies It was a victorious outing for the Nickeloeon alum on Aug. 28.
Thomas Doherty From the Upper East Side to the U.S. Open, the Gossip Girl actor hit the blue carpet.
Kerry Washington The Scandal star handled this family outing like a pro, bringing her mom Valerie Washington to the tennis tournament on Aug. 26..
