“Why not?”: Venus Williams explains shock comeback at 45 with iconic response

Venus Williams is finally making her return to the courts this Monday, July 21st, on Center Court at the DC Open. The former World No. 1 explained why she wanted to come back to the game. At 45 years old, we'll once again see the elder Williams sister in a professional tournament, having already been a professional for over 30 years.

Williams debuted in her first professional tournament in 1994, at just 14, and even at 45, she doesn't seem ready to officially retire. The 7-time Grand Slam champion will return to the courts after 16 months out of competition thanks to a wildcard at the start of the American hardcourt swing. She will face American Peyton Stearns in search of a victory, her first in almost two years.

After suffering several injuries in the latter years of her career, Venus hasn't wanted to hang up her racket. She last competed in March 2024 at the Miami Open, losing to Diana Shnaider, and hadn't returned to a professional tournament since. In March of this year, she was announced with a wildcard at Indian Wells, but hours later, Williams announced she wouldn't be at the tournament, stating she was never informed about the invitation and wouldn't even be in the country on the tournament date, causing embarrassment for the Tennis Paradise organization.

The question that arises after her return to the DC Open was announced this week is why Williams decided to pick up the racket again to return to the courts. "Why not?" she responded without hesitation in her press conference. "This time I had been hitting the ball. And of course, I love the game, and the hard courts, it’s my favorite surface, what I feel comfortable on. So, all those different factors."

"As a young person, I wanted to play the game, be a champion. I loved the game so much, I didn’t realize that it would be so much bigger than myself," the legendary tennis player added. "And seeing these young women doing positive things with their life, winning tournaments, inspiring the next generation, too, it’s like I could have never imagined that. So, it’s like icing on the cake, cherries on top with the nuts and all the fixings. It’s beautiful."

The elder Williams has spent most of her time on projects outside the tennis world, especially in talks, investments, and businesses in the fashion and sports industries, and even with a YouTube channel for the past couple of years. However, she hinted that her love for tennis was intact less than two months ago when she became part of the Roland Garros television broadcasts, being one of the most striking names on the commentators' panel presented by TNT Sports.

"I think it could be very easy to say the wrong thing, is what I realized when I was live on the air," she joked. "I was, like, ‘Just be careful. Don’t say the wrong thing. Don’t be too opinionated,’ because I have a lot of opinions, and many of them possibly unfounded. So, I’m glad I got out of it without being cancelled."

While Venus was the protagonist of the press conference, questions about her sister Serena also came up, after the 23-time Grand Slam champion was seen back on tennis courts practicing. "She can take six months off and she clocks it clean," Venus joked about her sister, who retired in 2022. "You can’t teach that kind of talent. She’s just so good. I don’t know what she’s going to do. I don’t ask those questions. I think we always hit the ball, because that’s who we are, we’re always hitting."

"Quite frankly, it’s great cardio. You get great legs and great arms from tennis, quiet as it’s kept. So obviously that’s part of her goal too is to stay in shape. I mean, I keep saying to my team, ‘The only thing that would make this better is if she was here,’ like we always did everything together, so of course I miss her. But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know."

The former World No. 1 also added that playing at the DC Open is especially meaningful due to her appreciation for the city. "You know, I believe in love and those around me, so my family, my friends. They keep me going and keep me grounded."

"Those are the people that are there for you when the things are lowest. They’re there for you also when the things are highest, because also it’s hard too when you’re high and trying to maintain that and trying to deal with what’s happening when you’re high and low. So, the love always gets you through."