At 45 years old, Venus Williams is stepping back onto one of tennis’ biggest stages. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion is officially returning to the French Open for the first time in five years, continuing a comeback season that has kept fans talking throughout 2026.
This time, Venus will compete in the women’s doubles tournament at Roland-Garros alongside fellow American player Hailey Baptiste. The pair previously teamed up at the 2025 DC Open, and now they’re heading to Paris together as Venus adds another chapter to her legendary career.
Venus last appeared at the French Open in 2021, when she partnered with Coco Gauff in doubles. Since then, injuries and long stretches away from the tour have fueled constant speculation about whether the tennis icon would finally retire. Instead, she quietly got back to work.
Her 2026 season has already included appearances in Auckland, Hobart, the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Madrid, making it clear that Venus is committed to competing again at the highest level.
The French Open holds special memories for the tennis legend. While clay was never considered her strongest surface, Venus still built an impressive legacy in Paris. She reached the French Open singles final in 2002, where she faced her sister, Serena Williams, in a historic championship match. She also captured two doubles titles at Roland-Garros with Serena in 1999 and 2010.
Across her career, Venus has collected seven Grand Slam singles titles, 14 women’s doubles Grand Slam titles alongside Serena and four Olympic gold medals, cementing her place as one of the greatest athletes in tennis history.
This latest return comes just months after Venus made headlines at the Australian Open in January, where she became the oldest woman to compete in the tournament’s main draw. Although she lost in the first round to Olga Danilović, Venus spoke positively about being back on the court.
“It was such a great game, such a great moment,” she said after the match. “The energy from the crowd was amazing. That lifted me up so much.”
“She played a great game. Also, some luck there, as well. That’s just the sport. That’s how it works sometimes. But it was an amazing moment.”
Her return to tennis follows a lengthy health battle involving uterine fibroids, a condition Venus revealed had affected her for nearly three decades. In 2024, she underwent surgery to remove the fibroids after dealing with symptoms that included severe cramps, heavy bleeding, nausea and anemia.
Speaking to NYU Langone Health, Venus shared that the condition had taken a major toll on both her health and career over the years.
Now, with another French Open appearance ahead of her, Venus is once again proving why her story continues to resonate with tennis fans around the world.
