Tennis star Venus Williams can compete at the US Open this year. The 45-year-old American received a wildcard for the main field of the last Grand Slam tournament of the year from August 24 to September 8 in New York. The sister of Serena Williams, which had already resigned from competitive sports, won the US Open 2000 and 2001.
According to the International Tennis Association (ITF), Venus Williams has become the oldest individual participant since Renee Richards, who started at the US Open at the age of 47. Williams had previously received a wildcard for the mixed double.
Venus Williams is one of the best tennis professionals in history. In her career for more than 30 years, she won 7 Grand Slam titles in singles, plus 14 in doubles with her younger sister Serena Williams and two in mixed. In addition, she is four times Olympic champion.
Williams had already received a wildcard for the currently running Masters tournament in Cincinnati. There she left in the first round.
Serious health problems
Most recently, she had revealed health problems before her uterine surgery in an emotional post. “I was told that I was inoperable. I was told that I could bleed away on the operating table. I was told that I should look for a surrogate mother and give up hope for her own children,” wrote the American on Instagram.
A year was her operation, in which a fibroid was removed, among other things. “I was diagnosed incorrectly. I was not treated for years.” It is important to work for your own health.
“I suffered from severe anemia, paralyzing pain, severe bleeding and unusually frequent menstrual cycles for many years. That impaired my tennis and my career,” she said.