The tennis world is buzzing with anticipation as Venus Williams prepares to step back onto the court after 15 months away from the game. But during her return announcement, Williams also revealed her thoughts on whether her sister Serena might also make a comeback to professional tennis.
Speaking candidly at a pre-tournament press conference, the seven-time Grand Slam champion offered revealing insights about Serena’s natural talent and the unique bond that continues to define both their careers and personal relationship.
What Did Venus Williams Say About Serena’s Potential Return?
Venus Williams returns to competitive action after a 15-month break, accepting a wildcard to compete at the upcoming ATP and WTA 500 tournament. The Mubadala Citi DC Open, set to run from July 21 to 27, marks her second wildcard appearance at the event. Williams previously competed in the nation’s capital in 2022, falling in the first round to Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino.
Her most recent tour appearance came at the 2024 Miami Open, where she lost in the opening round to Diana Shnaider. Earlier in 2025, Williams was scheduled to return at Indian Wells as a wildcard entrant but withdrew before the tournament began.
A hard-fought battle. Nothing short of spectacular! 🤩@serenawilliams defeats Venus Williams 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.#TSOpen pic.twitter.com/2bPg6tNKFe
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2020
During discussions about her own comeback, tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg asked Williams about the possibility of Serena making a surprise return to the WTA circuit. Her response highlighted her sister’s extraordinary natural ability: “She can take six months off and she clocks it clean. You can’t teach that kind of talent. She’s just so good.”
Williams emphasized that she doesn’t push her sister about future plans, explaining: “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. Quite frankly, it’s great cardio. You get great legs and great arms from tennis, quiet as it’s kept. So obviously that’s part of her goal too is to stay in shape.”
The emotional aspect of competing without her sister became clear when Williams shared: “I keep saying to my team, the only thing that would make this better is if she was here, like 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.”
Venus on a possible Serena’s comeback: https://t.co/qkL5DGEyPJ pic.twitter.com/WNCoMBv9QW
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 21, 2025
However, Rothenberg’s analysis in his newsletter reveals a significant obstacle to any potential Serena comeback. He noted that Serena cannot return to official competition anytime soon, as she exited the anti-doping pool in 2022 and would need to reapply and wait six months before being eligible to compete again.
Meanwhile, Venus Williams will participate in both singles and doubles competition at the Citi DC Open. Her singles first-round opponent will be compatriot Peyton Stearns, marking their first meeting on the WTA Tour.
In doubles, Williams will team up with Hailey Baptiste as a wildcard pairing. Their opening match will feature fellow wildcards Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue.
