In a potential return to the clay courts of Paris, US tennis icon Venus Williams has hinted at competing in the upcoming French Open after a two-year absence. The announcement follows her recent first-round exit at the Madrid Open, where she fell to Kaitlin Quevedo with a score of 6-2, 6-4.
Despite suffering her 10th consecutive defeat, Williams expressed enthusiasm about her performance on clay and her desire to continue playing, although she will not participate in the Italian Open due to scheduling conflicts. “Yeah, I mean, to get my feet dirty, this was a great start,” she reflected after the match. “We would love to keep it going on the clay.”
The 42-year-old veteran, who has accumulated an impressive tally of seven Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles— all alongside her sister Serena— also shared her excitement about returning to a surface she hasn’t played on extensively in recent years. “All these things take adjustments. I haven’t really played on clay in years, but I enjoy it. It’s fun.”
Recognized as a former World No. 1, Williams achieved her highest ranking on February 25, 2002, solidifying her status as one of the sport’s greats. As she gears up for her potential participation in the French Open, fans and experts alike will be watching closely to see if she can make a significant comeback in the final Grand Slam of the clay season.
