At the age of 45, tennis icon Venus Williams was proud of her early performance. She had a stiff test but proved her mettle in a grueling opening-round duel with Karolína Muchová at the US Open. This match marked her return to Grand Slam tennis after undergoing surgery to remove fibroids from her uterus last month, a condition that had impacted her career and personal life for years.
Williams, who has secured numerous accolades over her illustrious career, including two US Open titles in 2000 and 2001, faced Muchová on a notable stage. Landing in her first Grand Slam final at the US Open in 1997, she was a mere 17 years of age. Today, she can boast being the tournament’s oldest singles player since 1981.
To get ready for the big competition, Williams trained nonstop for three solid months. She cut off contact with friends and avoided team dinners to focus on returning to form. Her efforts were enough to prop up a match that finished 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in Muchová’s favor. Even with the loss Williams explained she is happy with the quality of play that she was able to showcase.
“I definitely had a bit of a slow start, but it’s not really a bad thing,” she shared after the match. The bright lights of the arena and the supportive crowd added to her experience, as she noted, “The lights are very bright out there. I don’t think I’ve ever had a crowd that much on my side.”
Williams emphasized the emotional aspect of her return, stating, “I knew going into this match that people in this stadium, people in the United States, people around the world were really rooting for me, and that felt great.”
After missing 16 months due to injury, this was just her fourth match since returning to the sport in July. Reflecting on her journey, she remarked, “I think for me, getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy.” Williams has no immediate plans coming out of her tournament exit. She will not play in the Guadalajara Open later this month due to altitude issues.
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