Venus Williams is set to make her return to Grand Slam competition at the US Open.
The American made her debut at the majors back in 1997, when she played in New York and the French Open for the first time in her career.
28 years later and the former world number one is still an active player and will compete in the main draw of a Grand Slam at the age of 45.
Williams was offered a US Open wildcard which she gleefully accepted, and fans will be delighted to see her grace the courts at Flushing Meadows at least one more time.
Andy Roddick defends the US Open offering Venus Williams a wildcard
On Venus Williams’ US Open debut, she reached the final in 1997 as a 17-year-old, losing to Martina Hingis.
In 2025, the seven-time Grand Slam champion has returned to the Big Apple to compete at her home Grand Slam for the 25th time.
She was one of those offered a wildcard into the main draw as her ranking position of 580 is too low to even enter the US Open qualifying tournament.
The decision to offer Williams a US Open wildcard was met with criticism by some fans, but her compatriot Andy Roddick wholeheartedly agrees with the move.
“I want her to win. I want it to be a story. Also that is not the most important thing for Venus Williams this tournament. I don’t know how much longer we are going to have her in tennis,” Roddick said via ‘Served’ podcast.
“I don’t care if she goes out and doesn’t win a single game, we should be full of gratitude for having had Venus Williams in our game.
“Here is my take on the wildcard thing. They [critics] are like they are taking it away from someone who is deserving. If you are deserving, you don’t need a wildcard. Simply you have qualified on your own ranking.
“It’s not an entitlement, it’s a gift. You’re telling me as a tennis tournament that Venus Williams is not deserving as a gift from the US Open? Shut up, get out of here. She has been a gift to us, it’s not the other way around.”
Andy Roddick explains what he thinks of Venus Williams
Throughout Roddick’s entire tennis career, Williams was also playing.
The year after Williams won her second and final US Open, Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero to win his only major.
He watched Venus and Serena Williams dominate the game and leave a lasting legacy the likes of which may never be replicated.
Having spent time with the Williams sisters over the years, Roddick shared what it was like to be around Venus and the difference between her and Serena.
“If we don’t soak up every bit of this amazing story, of these sisters, coming out of Compton to dominate our sport,” he said. “Imagine having won seven Grand Slam titles and being the second best player in your family!
“These women are amazing, they are exceptional. We are lucky to have had them in our game. They are phenomenal. And Venus, when you get her engaged, she is shy in front of the camera.
“Her and Serena could not be more different personalities yet they have a lot of the same things with the way that they value people, the way they value their place in the game and the way they value work. Venus Williams is low-key hilarious, all the time. She is amazing.”
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