Venus Williams made a dramatic return to tennis in the 2025 season, coming back to the sport after a 16-month break.
Remarkably, Serena Williams could return to tennis in 2026, but that is verging on the unlikely at this stage.
But the return of Venus Williams very much took place, with the seven-time Grand Slam champion making a comeback in Washington DC.
There, the 45-year-old secured a dramatic victory over fellow American Peyton Stearns, winning their WTA 500 clash 6-3, 6-4.
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Venus Williams earns WTA 500 Moment of the Year award
The veteran continued her hugely exciting return in Cincinnati and the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals in doubles at the latter alongside Leylah Fernandez.
And Williams has now been recognised for her winning return, with the American having just earned the WTA 500 Moment of the Year award, as chosen by fans.
In total in the latest WTA season, she won one singles match and lost three, with four wins and two defeats in doubles.
Williams has ended her comeback season ranked 576th in singles and 148th in doubles, having once reached world number one in both formats.
Coco Gauff joins Venus Williams in WTA 2025 fan awards
Legendary figure Williams isn’t the only American to have been recognised in the latest edition of the WTA fan awards.
Her compatriot Gauff is involved in the Match of the Year award for her Rome semifinal clash with Qinwen Zheng.
A tiebreak was needed to split the pair in the Italian capital, with Gauff eventually winning 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4) after three hours and 22 minutes.
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It was a superb season in general for Gauff, who claimed her second Grand Slam title at the French Open.
She looks set to continue her momentum in 2026, while Williams could play at the Australian Open, having committed to play the ASB Classic in Auckland just before.
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