Venus
Williams hinted that she could continue playing on the WTA tour until the age
of fifty, shortly before her debut at Wimbledon.
The 7-time
Grand Slam champion refuses to retire from tennis and this year marks her 29th
year as a professional. At 43 years old, Williams will be the oldest player at
Wimbledon (in fact, the oldest on the tour).
In the
women's main draw at the All England Club, only five players over the age of 35
will be present: Tatjana Maria, Sara Errani, Barbora Strycova, Kaia Kanepi, and
Venus Williams. However, Williams surpasses the second oldest on the list by 5
years.
When asked
recently if she believes she can continue playing until the age of 50, Williams
responded:
“It’s never
be done before so if there was one to drive it, it would be me,” Venus said.
The former
world No. 1 reminisced about her first participation in Wimbledon in 1997, a
tournament she won five times (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008), and the changes
that have occurred since then:
“Oh man, it
rained for five days in a row," she said.
"So
mostly it was sitting in the lounge waiting to play. I don’t think it has ever
done anything like that since so it was an interesting year to get started.
“I played
on Court One the year it opened so that was pretty special too. It’s awesome to
be back. There is nothing like the green grass of Wimbledon. The biggest change
was obviously the prize money in 2007. That is the biggest and most important
change.”
In 2023,
Williams started the year with a victory over Katie Volynets at the ASB
Classic, but she was eliminated from the tournament in the second round by
China's Zhu Lin. After the tournament, "Queen V" announced an injury
that would keep her off the courts indefinitely, but she made a comeback at the
's-Hertogenbosch Open where she lost in the first round.
The former
world No. 1 showed that despite her age, her tennis level is still there, as
she secured a great victory against Camila Giorgi at the Birmingham Open and
then fell to Jelena Ostapenko in a three-set match against the Latvian, who is
currently ranked 9th in the Race to the WTA Finals.
Her debut
at Wimbledon will take place on Monday, July 3rd, on Center Court against
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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