Venus Williams says she is relishing the chance to make a record-extending 25th appearance at the US Open, insisting that the thrill of competing at her home Grand Slam never fades.
The 45-year-old American great is set to begin what could be her farewell singles campaign at Flushing Meadows on 25 August, facing 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the opening round.
“Super thrilling to be back,” said Williams, who received a wild card to compete in New York, with her current world ranking standing at 610. “It does not get old; it just gets more exciting.”
Williams only returned to competition in July following a 16-month break, claiming a first-round victory at the Washington Open before bowing out in the second round.
Her appearance this year comes 28 years after her US Open debut as a 17-year-old in 1997, when she captivated the tennis world by storming to the final before losing to Martina Hingis.
Since then, Williams has cemented her place among the sport’s greats, winning seven Grand Slam singles titles – including two US Opens and five Wimbledons – along with 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her sister Serena.
Despite a glittering career spanning four decades, Williams says her love for the sport remains as strong as ever:
“I love my job. So there’s the joy right there,” she told reporters. “I haven’t thought about what people would take away from it. I just mostly think about what I would get from it.”
Heading into what may be her final US Open, Williams says she wants to enjoy herself and focus on her own performance:
“I want to be my best, and that’s the expectation I have for myself – to get the best out of me. That’s all any player can ask for,” she said.
“I haven’t played as much as the other players, so it’s a different challenge. I’m just trying to have fun, stay relaxed, and be my personal best.”
Williams added that, whatever the future holds, tennis will always remain a part of her life:
“I think I’ll always play tennis. 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, hitting balls. Maybe I’ll come back to watch and say I did it better – even if it’s not true. But tennis will always be one of the most important parts of my life.”
Williams’ milestone coincides with the 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s groundbreaking first appearance at the US national championships in 1950.
“I think the most important part is that we are celebrating it and recognising it,” Williams said. “Althea accomplished so much, and a lot of it has not been given the credit, attention and praise it deserves. To shine a light on that and acknowledge it is what matters most.”