Venus Williams shocked the tennis world when she revealed the real reason behind her 16-month absence from professional tennis. The seven-time Grand Slam champion didn’t just take time off to rest or recover from a typical sports injury. She underwent major surgery that doctors initially told her was too dangerous to perform, a procedure that quite literally saved her career and possibly her life.
How Did Venus Williams Return to Professional Tennis After Surgery?
After a 16-month hiatus from competitive play, Venus Williams returned to the tennis court in Washington, D.C., after receiving a wild card entry into the main draw at the 2025 Citi DC Open. There she triumphed over fellow American Peyton Stearns, winning in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4. However, her run in the tournament was cut short in the second round, where she lost to fifth seed Magdalena Fręch 2-6, 2-6.
In addition to her singles competition, the former World No. 1 also participated in the doubles event at the 2025 Citi DC Open, partnering with compatriot Hailey Baptiste. The duo defeated the wild card team of Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue in the first round, winning 6-3, 6-1. However, they lost 4-6, 6-3 [6-10] in the quarterfinals to the eventual champions, the second-seeded team of Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai.
What Surgery Did Venus Williams Have a Year Back?
Following the conclusion of her comeback at the 2025 Citi DC Open, Williams took to social media to share her health journey. She revealed that a year ago she had undergone an open myomectomy, a surgical procedure to remove fibroids and a large focal adenomyoma embedded in the muscle of her uterus.
“On this day 1 year ago I was having surgery, an open myomectomy to remove fibroids and a large focal adenomyoma that was imbedded in the muscle of my uterus. What a difference a year makes! I played my first tournament in over 16 months (thank you @markdein1 @mubadalacitidcopen!) and I am now preparing to play the @usopen. This post is in celebration of the last day of fibroid awareness month. There can be happy endings!” Williams wrote.
View this post on Instagram
How Did Misdiagnosis Impact Venus Williams’ Tennis Career?
The former World No. 1 disclosed that she had been misdiagnosed for years, leading to untreated health issues that ultimately impacted her tennis career. The revelation shows how medical setbacks can derail even the most elite athletes when proper treatment is delayed.
“I was told I was inoperable. I was told I could bleed to death on the table. I was told to get a surrogate and forget the hope to carry my own children. I was misdiagnosed. I went untreated for years and years and years. It’s so important to advocate for your health! I suffered from severe anemia, debilitating pain, excessive bleeding and abnormally frequent menstrual cycles for many years. It affected my tennis and the trajectory of my career,” she continued.
By sharing her experience, Williams stated that she aims to raise awareness about an often overlooked condition and encourage other women to seek timely treatment. Her story highlights the importance of getting second opinions and fighting for proper medical care.
“I told my story so other women don’t have to go through this and so they can get better sooner. Thank you @drshirazian (my hero!) and @nyulangone for spearheading my pathway to health, getting me back to the sport I love and for helping to build awareness for this very curable issue,” Williams added.
In her post, the seven-time Grand Slam champion expressed that after undergoing surgery, she feels better and is able to play tennis as a healthier person. She also expressed her gratitude to her fiancé, Andrea Preti, her sister, Isha Price, and others who supported her throughout this ordeal.
“I play tennis now because I can play healthier than ever, it is a dream come true! Thanks @laralucaslulu @ladyisha01 @andreapreti88 @isabelbrigido_ and Li Fang the dream team that took care of me and my little puppy Harold when I couldn’t!” she wrote.
Following the conclusion of her campaign in Washington, D.C., Williams is expected to compete next at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, scheduled to take place from  August 5 to August 18, 2025, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. She has been granted a wild card entry into the main draw of the tournament.
