WTA Washington Open 2025: Venus Williams Wants Sister Serena To Return - Read Full Statement

Venus Williams wants her sister Serena to follow her lead and return to tennis, as the 45-year-old prepares to participate at the Washington Open as a wildcard entrant.

Venus, who won seven singles titles at grand slams between 2000 and 2008, last competed at the Miami Open in March last year.

She has not won a match since overcoming Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati Open in August 2023, but she will face Peyton Stearns in the first round in Washington on Monday after accepting a wildcard.

She cannot wait to return to the court, but if one thing could make her return better, it would be the presence of her younger sister.

"I keep saying to my team: The only thing that would make this better is if she was here," Venus told reporters on Sunday.

"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."

As well as winning a combined 30 singles titles at grand slams, the Williams sisters teamed up to win 14 doubles titles at majors, the most recent of which came at Wimbledon in 2016.

Asked if she had asked her sister about a return, Venus said: "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."

Serena retired after the US Open in 2022, losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round after upsetting then-world number two Anett Kontaveit in the second round.

But the 43-year-old has not become rusty in her years away from the court, having recently participated in one of Venus' practice sessions. 

"She can take six months off and she clocks it clean," Venus said. "You can't teach that kind of talent. She's just so good."

The Washington Open runs from Monday to next Sunday, with Jessica Pegula seeded first. 

Venus will also play doubles alongside fellow American Hailey Baptiste, with the pair drawn to face Clervia Ngounoue and Eugenie Bouchard – who is retiring after the Canadian Open one week later.