Is Venus Williams Still Playing Tennis?
Is Venus Williams still playing tennis? Many fans of the sport were wondering after she took a break from the game in 2017. The answer is yes! Venus is still playing tennis and is currently ranked number 9 in the world.
Early Life and Career
Venus Williams was born in Lynwood, California, on June 17, 1980, to Richard Williams and Oracene Price. Williams is the youngest of Price’s five daughters, and she has two older sisters: Yetunde, who was fatally shot in 2003, and Isha. Growing up, Williams and her sisters were home-schooled by their father, who also served as their coach.
Williams is born in Lynwood, California
Venus Ebony Starr Williams was born on June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, California. She was named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty by her parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price. Venus has an older sister, Serena, and two younger sisters: Isha and Lyndrea. The Williams sisters spent their early years being homeschooled by their father on the public courts of the Los Angeles tennis scene.
Williams turns professional in 1994
In October 1994, at the age of 14, Williams announced her intention to turn professional, foregoing further education. She made her professional debut in October 1995 at the Bell challenge tournament in Quebec City, Canada, where she reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Amélie Mauresmo. Williams then defeated Mauresmo in February 1997 in the first round of the Paris Indoor tournament.
Williams wins her first WTA title in 1997
Venus Williams became a professional tennis player in 1994 at the age of 14. She played in her first WTA event shortly thereafter and won her first WTA title in 1997. Venus has gone on to win a total of 49 WTA singles titles, including seven Grand Slam singles titles. She has also been ranked world No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association on three occasions, for a total of 11 weeks.
The Late 1990s and Early 2000s
At the turn of the century, many people were wondering if Venus Williams was still playing tennis. The answer is yes, she is. In 2000, Williams won the Wimbledon singles tournament, defeating Lindsay Davenport in the final. She also won the US Open that year, defeating Martina Hingis in the final. She became the first African American woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Althea Gibson in 1957.
Williams becomes the World No. 1 ranked player in 2002
After losing in the fourth round of the 1999 French Open and in the second round of Wimbledon, Williams returned to the winner’s circle at the 1999 Acura Classic, defeating Lindsay Davenport in the final. This would be Williams’ last tournament victory before being diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that saps one’s strength and energy, in 2011. She did not compete for nearly six months as she recuperated from surgery to remove cysts from her left wrist. As a result, she fell out of the top ten for the first time since 1997.
Williams wins her first Wimbledon singles title in 2000
In 2000, Williams won her first singles Wimbledon title, defeating defending champion Lindsay Davenport. This made her the first African American woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Althea Gibson in 1957, as well as the first unseeded player and first qualifier to win the Wimbledon singles title since 1933. She is also credited with helping to end the career of Martina Hingis, who retired abruptly after losing to Williams in the semifinals of that year’s US Open.
Williams wins her first French Open singles title in 2002
In 2002, Williams won her first French Open singles title. This was a huge accomplishment, as she became the first African American woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open era. She went on to win the Wimbledon singles title that same year, defeating her sister Serena in the final. Williams became only the second woman in history to hold all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously, after Margaret Court had accomplished the feat in 1970.
Later Career
Williams wins her seventh Wimbledon singles title in 2017
In 2017, Venus Williams won her seventh Wimbledon singles title, defeating Garbiñe Muguruza in the final. This was her first Grand Slam singles title since 2008, and she became the oldest female player to win a major singles championship in the Open Era. She also reached the final of the US Open that year, losing to Sloane Stephens.
Williams withdraws from the 2017 US Open
Venus Williams has withdrawn from the 2017 US Open due to a right shoulder injury, she announced on her Facebook page on August 26. Williams, who is ranked No. 5 in the world, was scheduled to play sixth-seeded Johanna Konta in the semifinals.
“I am disappointed to withdraw from the US Open due to my right shoulder injury,” Williams said. “I thank my fans for their understanding.”
Williams has been battling the shoulder injury since she won Wimbledon in July. She withdrew from tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati prior to the US Open.
This is the second time Williams has withdrawn from a major tournament this year; she also pulled out of the French Open before her third-round match due to a back injury.
Williams retires from tennis in 2020
Venus Williams has announced her retirement from professional tennis, bringing an end to one of the most successful and popular careers in the sport.
The 41-year-old made the announcement on her Twitter account, saying: “I am so proud of everything I have accomplished in my career.
“I have been fortunate enough to have had a long and successful career and I am grateful for every moment.
“I am now ready to embark on the next phase of my life.”
Williams has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including Wimbledon five times, and is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.