Venus Williams provides encouraging fitness update after Washington comeback

Venus Williams might have bowed out of the Washington Open, but she is far from finished.

The 45-year-old tennis icon delivered a series of crowd-pleasing performances at the WTA 500 DC Open this week, proving that age is truly just a number.

Granted a wild card for both singles and doubles, Williams returned to the court for the first time in over a year, and let us just say, she did not exactly ease back into it.

From the moment she stepped onto the court, fans were buzzing.

It had been 14 months since her last professional match, and while many wondered if Washington might be her swan song, Venus made one thing abundantly clear: she is not done yet. Not even close.

She stormed through her opening-round matches in both draws, becoming the second-oldest woman in WTA history to win a tour-level match, behind only the legendary Martina Navrátilová.

Though her singles campaign came to an end with a tough 2-6, 2-6 loss to Poland’s Magdalena Frech, Williams left the court with her trademark grace, grit, and, importantly, good health.

Speaking to reporters right after the match, Venus was her usual candid and charismatic self. Asked about how her body was holding up after a whirlwind return, she cracked a smile and said: "I never got out of shape, so you’d have to talk to someone who let themself go.".

She added on by saying, "That’s not my thing. I stayed in shape. Even if I wasn’t playing tennis, I was always in the gym. So I think the only difference now is I think I’m just tighter, but I have always been a very tight individual anyway, so my muscles are even tighter, which maybe is good or maybe is bad,".

The American superstar continued with the following: "But physically, I feel pretty much the same, like I don’t have major injuries that are like killing me or anything like that. When you play on tour, something comes up, trust me. You have no idea what goes on for players to get out on the court. Something happens. You’re trying to fix things.".

Her words paint a picture not just of longevity, but of supreme athletic discipline. Most players at 45 are enjoying retirement or alternatively commentating from the sidelines. Venus? She is still in the gym, still training and somehow still winning.

Also in classic Venus fashion, she was not afraid to poke a bit of fun at the idea of being ‘held together’ by tape and painkillers as she said: "That part is normal, but I don’t have, like, chronic this or chronic that or this is a disaster, I’m holding it together with staples and paper clips. I don’t have any of that with my body. It’s a blessing, knock on wood.".

All in all, Williams’ return has reignited conversation around whether she should be granted a US Open wild card. Former world No.1 Andy Roddick said earlier this week that she had "earned the right to decide" when and where she wants to play, echoing the views of many within the tennis community.

While the USTA has yet to confirm its decisions, Williams is widely expected to feature at Flushing Meadows in August, where she would make her 25th career appearance.

Her legacy as one of the most important and influential figures in the sport's history remains secure. Alongside sister Serena, she helped transform women’s tennis both on and off the court, breaking barriers, setting records, and inspiring a new generation of athletes.

If Washington was meant to be a test of how much Williams had left in the tank, she passed it with ease. Though she did not progress beyond the second round, her level of play, sharp movement, and clear enjoyment on court have left many hoping this is just the beginning of one final US swing.