Caused a huge frisson in the world of tennis the appearance of the American Venus Williams, 45, at WTA 500 Washington this week.
The American legend who had last played at the 2024 Miami Open, exactly 16 months ago, pointed out as a “inactive” player through the organization’s website that takes care of women’s tennis, further increased the mood of commotion after winning the debut of the pairs and, less than 24 hours later, beat American Peyton Stearns, current number 35 of the ranking.
Not even the defeats in the next phases stifted the feat: “I had a lot of fun,” she said after the elimination for Polish Magdalena Frech (25th in the world).
“Unfortunately, I got out of fuel today, sorry for the delay [em voltar às quadras]. I know I can play better and will play, “he said, giving evidence that he should be at Cincinatti Open, a tournament in which he received a” Wild Card ” – Convitement granted by the organization for a player to participate without qualification.
Former number 1 in the world of simple and doubles, being the first black woman to occupy the post in the Open Tennis Era, owner of 49 simple titles, with seven Grand Slams, the oldest of sisters Williams can make her return another milestone in the history of tennis.
In July 2023, during the preparation for Wimbledon, asked if he would follow the footsteps of his serena younger sister announcing retirement, she surprised that she intended to play until the 50: “No one did it before, so if someone is capable, it’s me,” he said on the occasion. The return now divides experts.
Career of Venus Williams
- Best position in the simple ranking: 1º
- Best position in the double ranking: 1º
- Simple titles: 49
- Grand Slam titles: 5 of Wimbledon (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008) and 2 at US Open (2000 and 2001)
- Titles in pairs: 22
- Prize in money: US $ 42.6 million (R $ 238 million, in the current quotation)
“I do not consider a return because she simply never stopped. He gave time to recover from injuries, surgery and disease. It is visible that it is in shape, physically strong, super trained. It comes to stay in the circuit. No one plays what she played, hits a 35 of the world with power and regularity for nothing. SheetBrazilian with more time in WTA and silver medalist in the PAN of 1975.
“It is a self-operation, involves breaking records, proving, love for the sport. We are talking about someone who has always been activist in tennis. Who can be successful in business, but who wants to be a protagonist in sport,” he adds.
Venus debuted as a professional 31 years ago in Oakland, when he was only 14 years old. Since then, it has been marked not only by titles, but by entrepreneurship and fights on and out of court. He successfully defended the egalitarian payment of awards for men and women, as well as being released as a businesswoman in various segments.
Despite recent victories and nod with a fresh start, the path is still long to match Martina Navratilova’s record, who won a simple match from WTA at 47 in 2004 and played until 49.
From the beginning of 2020 to the Washinghton tournament were only seven wins, as well as followed health problems, such as uterine fibroids that caused severe pain. Since 2011, she has been living with Sjoggen’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes excess fatigue and joint pain.
“My health journey was very scary,” he said at a news conference a day before the tournament.
“I believe it will not go far. It will be more punctual appearances because the tennis player really misses the routine, but I still do not see as a definitive return. The victory only shows the size for the sport,” says former tennis player Andrea Vieira, Dadá, Brazil’s first player to overcome one of the top five in the world in the open era.
“The way she goes out of the court, with a genuine joy and teary eyes, has greatly impacted everyone because she is a tennis legend. In practical terms, victory means nothing to her, but speaking of symbolism is something huge. She has no money to earn, but was happy to have overcome herself, her own body that is limited,” adds Luís Stival, responsible for the professional tennis performance analyst with Beyond the obvious.
Before the return, American newspapers put in check and analysts criticized the possibility of unnecessary exposure of a quadra supercue.
“There was fear of a cardboard. And she didn’t do it, on the contrary. I think she can open a ‘case’ from women, to be a stimulus in the future, just as there are many cases among men like Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors,” explains Ricardo Acioly, the former technician of Fernando Meligeni and Brazil at the Davis Cup.
Former American Bethanie Mattek-Sands’ counters, former number 1 in the world in pairs, former Brazilian tennis player Bruno Puzzi, who has worked as Serena Sparring in 1999, believes the American will now live her best after years of sacrifice.
“Now is her challenge, it’s something totally inner. Before it was for the media, the sponsor, for Richard Williams (father and mentor of the players), but now it’s just for her. And this is liberating. Knowing their game closely: you can win. But now without pressure,” says the current technical coordinator of the school Tennis Santos.
Venus left the tournament saying the obvious: that even she herself knows what will happen in the distant future. May it be eternal while it lasts.
