
Venus Williams wishes sister Serena would come out of retirement to join her in competition
In the video, the younger Williams sister looks as athletic as she did during her career, crushing huge groundstrokes that were such a nightmare for her opponents.
So, is there a Serena comeback on the cards, too?
'I mean, I keep saying to my team: 'The only thing that would make this better is if she was here,' like we always did everything together, so of course I miss her,' Venus told reporters ahead of her return, per the Associated Press.
'But if she comes back, I'm sure she'll let y'all know.'
Williams went on to tell reporters about a recent training session that her sister briefly joined, remarking at how well she was still striking the ball after time away from the court.
Serena – who won 23 grand slam singles titles, 14 in doubles with her sister and two mixed doubles titles – last played competitively at the 2022 US Open.
'She can take six months off and she clocks it clean,' Williams said.
'You can't teach that kind of talent. She's just so good. I don't know what she's going to do. I don't ask those questions. I think we always hit the ball because that's who we are, we're always hitting.'
Venus Williams, a seven-time grand slam singles champion, last played a WTA Tour match in March 2024 when she lost in the opening round of the Miami Open to Russian Diana Shnaider.
The 45-year-old's last singles win on the tour was in 2023 against Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open.
She is currently without a ranking and is listed as 'inactive' on the WTA website.
'You know, I believe in love and those around me, so my family, my friends,' Williams said of her desire to continue playing. 'They keep me going and keep me grounded.
'Those are the people that are there for you when the things are lowest. They're there for you also when the things are highest because also it's hard too when you're high and trying to maintain that and trying to deal with what's happening when you're high and low.
'So, the love always gets you through.'

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CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
US Open will offer the largest purse in tennis history at $90 million
The champions of this year's US Open are set to enjoy the biggest payday in tennis history. Tournament organizers announced on Wednesday that the men's and women's singles champions will each earn $5 million at this year's tournament, a 39% increase on the $3.6 million awarded in 2024. Overall, the tournament's prize purse will top $90 million – the largest in tennis history and a 20% increase on last year, which stood at $75 million. There will also be sizeable increases in pay for those who progress to the latter stages of the competition, with singles finalists earning $2.5 million (a 26% increase), semifinalists $1.26 million (a 26% increase), and quarterfinalists $660,000 (a 25% increase). For the first time at the tournament, winning teams in the men's, women's and mixed doubles will receive $1 million in prize money. The increase in prize money comes after some of the world's top players reportedly sent a letter to organizers of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open requesting a 'substantial increase' in prize money. 'The US Open has made a deliberate and concerted effort to ensure double-digit percentage increases from 2024 in all rounds of all events for all players, while at the same time significantly increasing the percentage of prize money for athletes playing deep into the singles draws,' said a press release on the US Open website. Organizers have also set aside $5 million to put towards player expenses, including a $1,000 travel stipend for each player and two hotel rooms at the official player hotel (or $600 per day for staying at alternative accommodation). Qualifying for this year's US Open begins on August 18, with the main singles draws getting underway on August 24 and concluding on September 7. Sweeping – and controversial – changes have been made to the mixed doubles competition this year, which will now be staged on August 19 and 20 and include some of the biggest names in the sport. Among some of the all-star pairings will be Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro, Casper Ruud and Iga Świątek, and Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov. The rationale is that top players will then be available to appear in the mixed doubles, attracting more fans and allowing broadcasters to spotlight the competition before main draw singles play begins. However, defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori called the format change a 'pseudo-exhibition' and 'profound injustice' which 'disrespect(s) an entire category of players.' Eight pairs of the 16-team field have been selected based on their combined singles ranking, while eight are wild-card entries. The US Tennis Association told CNN Sports that the new format will 'elevate mixed doubles with a bigger spotlight and provide a greater opportunity to inspire more people to play and grow the sport.' It also said in a press release that 'the world's best players will have the opportunity to compete for this title and the multi-million dollar purse without having to juggle mixed doubles with their singles and doubles commitments.'


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