Venus
Williams and Sloane Stephens confirm their presence at the next Atlanta Open
Sunday Showdown. The exhibition match featuring these former Grand Slam
champions will take place on Sunday, July 21, marking the beginning of the
final Atlanta Open.
The former
world No. 1, Venus Williams, has endured four consecutive defeats on the Tour
(0-2 in 2024) and will return to the court for the first time since the Miami
Open two months ago, where she lost in the first round to Diana Shnaider (3-6,
3-6). Williams will face the 2017 US Open champion Stephens, who recently
clinched the title at the Rouen Open, defeating Magda Linette in the final (6-1,
2-6, 6-2).
Luxury Farewell: Williams and Stephens in the last Sunday Showdown at Atlanta
Both
players have participated in the Sunday Showdown in previous years. Williams
played in its inaugural edition in 2017 against the former Wimbledon finalist
Eugenie Bouchard, while Stephens featured in 2021 against the former world No.
1 Kim Clijsters.
Read also
Williams,
43, is the most successful active player in terms of victories, with seven
Grand Slam singles titles and 49 in total in her career, along with 14 Grand
Slam doubles titles, four Olympic gold medals, and one silver. Williams also
leads in Tour victories with 818, placing her sixth in history.
Facing her
will be a formidable opponent, a Grand Slam champion at the 2017 US Open, who
reached a career-high ranking of world No. 3. Stephens has not replicated her
top-10 success since 2019 but has maintained consistency, hovering around the
top-40.
Williams secured her last victory in August 2023 at the Cincinnati Open, where she surprised world No. 17 Veronika Kudermetova with a 6-4, 7-5 win.
At 31, she
is currently ranked world No. 35 and has just secured her eighth professional
title at the Ruan Open. Stephens leads the head-to-head against Williams 2-0,
although their last encounter was seven years ago, with Stephens winning in the
US Open semi-finals 6-1, 0-6, 7-5.
“We are
proud to announce that Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens will play in the
final Sunday Showdown delivered by UPS,” said Peter Lebedevs, Atlanta Open
tournament director. “Venus and Sloane are two beloved champions of our sport,
and they will surely put on a great show for Atlanta tennis fans.”
Read also
This will
be the last occasion for the exhibition, as tournament directors recently
announced that this will be the final edition of the Atlanta Open: "The
2024 Atlanta Open will be a celebration of past champions and the great 15-year
run of the tournament, giving us a chance to honour and celebrate the
tremendous support we’ve received from the city, the tennis community, and
local universities over the years.”
“We’re
thankful for the wonderful memories we’ve made in Atlanta and are working to
return in some capacity and bring professional tennis back to this great
city," said Peter Lebedevs, the Atlanta Open tournament's director.
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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