“It is super thrilling to be back. It does not get old, it just gets more exciting,” said Venus Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, ahead of her U.S. Open return after a 16-month absence from the tour. At 45, many athletes walk away to preserve their bodies, but for Williams, tennis is far more than just a sport. “I love my job. So there’s the joy right there,” she explained, describing her passion. She returned with the intent to go all the way, but her run was cut short by the much younger Karolina Muchova. With that loss, Williams’ U.S. Open chapter came to a close, a bittersweet ending she handled with grace. However, when asked about her comeback, she was nothing short of emotional.

Despite the loss, as Williams walked off the court, the fans gave her a standing ovation, making sure she knew just how much they loved her. At the U.S. Open presser, Williams was asked several questions, one of which was how she felt about making a comeback after such a long time. The seven-time Grand Slam champion responded, saying, “Yeah, my team and I, we worked as hard and as fast as we could. Like, we literally took no days off. I haven’t gone to dinner. I haven’t seen friends. I haven’t done anything except train for three months as hard as I could.”

She further added, “And then, from each match that I didn’t win, I tried to go back and learn from that and then get better. So, I don’t even remember the question now, but I was… whatever. I don’t know.” After her myomectomy, a surgical procedure to remove fibroids, she had to stay in bed for months. It was a difficult time for her, but her never-give-up attitude ensured she got through it.

Moreover, when one of the correspondents asked her what she had proved to herself, Venus Williams got visibly emotional while answering. “Oh, what did I prove to myself? I think for me, getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthily. And when you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind. It’s not just how you feel; you get stuck in your mind, too. So, it was nice to be freer,” said Williams, holding back her tears. In fact, for Williams, making a comeback to the grand slam with the US Open was a full circle moment.

Exactly 28 years ago, on August 25, 1997, the Arthur Ashe stadium opened its gates for the first time; later that day, a young 17-year-old Venus stepped onto the court for her US Open debut. One of the very few reasons why this defeat might just pinch her is the fact that she wanted to secure a victory at the same stadium on this very date over a quarter of a century later.

Talking about her performance, Williams said, “I didn’t win today, but I’m very proud of how I played. I don’t think I’ve ever had a crowd that much on my side … every point. It didn’t matter if I was losing… they were just right there with me. I knew going into this match that people in the stadium, people in the United States, people around the world were really rooting for me. And that felt great. It felt great to have that kind of support.”

With her defeat, Venus Williams took a serious hit to her career. So, what’s next for her? Is the seven-time Grand Slam winner contemplating retirement? Certainly not.

Venus Williams is far from retirement

With four Olympic gold medals, seven Grand Slam singles titles, and fourteen Grand Slam doubles crowns, Venus Williams stands as one of the greatest players in tennis history. So, what’s next for her? Many believe retirement is near, but the 45-year-old made it clear that she is not planning to hang her racket. Not yet.

“I think I’ll always play tennis,” she said. “It’s in my DNA. So it doesn’t matter if it’s now or 30 years from now, God willing, I’ll be here, we’ll all be here, we’ll all be hitting balls.Maybe I’ll come back to watch. Maybe I’ll be saying I did it better, and it won’t be true. But, in any case, tennis will always be one of the most important parts of my life.”

Once ruling the rankings, Venus Williams now sits at No. 582 in WTA singles. Her legacy will always be defined by her remarkable accolades, but will anyone ever replicate it? For now, that remains uncertain. For minute by minute updates on the 2025 US Open, head to our EssentiallySports Live Blog.