What Happened to Venus Williams?
Venus Williams, one of tennis's most enduring legends, continues to defy age and health challenges, actively competing on the WTA Tour in 2026. After battling Sjögren's syndrome and undergoing surgery for uterine fibroids in 2024, she made a remarkable comeback to singles and doubles play in 2025 and 2026, participating in Grand Slams and other WTA events, while also expanding her business empire and marrying Andrea Preti in 2025.
Quick Answer
Venus Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, is still actively competing in professional tennis as of June 2026, at 46 years old. Following surgery for uterine fibroids in 2024 and a return to the tour in mid-2025, she has played in several tournaments, including the 2026 Australian Open, Miami Open, ATX Open, and French Open doubles. She is also slated to play women's doubles at Wimbledon 2026 with her sister Serena. Off-court, Williams married actor Andrea Preti in 2025 and continues to manage her successful business ventures like EleVen and V Starr.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Professional Debut
Venus Williams made her professional debut at the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland at the age of 14, defeating Shaun Stafford in the first round.
First Major Final
Williams reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the US Open, losing to Martina Hingis.
First Grand Slam & Olympic Gold
Williams won her first Wimbledon and US Open singles titles, and secured Olympic gold medals in singles and women's doubles at the Sydney Olympics.
Achieves World No. 1 Ranking
Venus Williams became the world No. 1 in singles, making her the first African-American woman in the Open Era to achieve this feat.
Diagnosed with Sjögren's Syndrome
Williams announced her diagnosis with Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain, impacting her playing schedule.
Uterine Fibroid Surgery
Williams underwent surgery to remove uterine fibroids, a health issue she had experienced for nearly 30 years, leading to a significant hiatus from the tour.
Return to WTA Tour and Singles Win
After a 16-month absence, Williams returned to competition at the DC Open, winning a singles match against Peyton Stearns and becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match.
Competes in US Open
Williams played in her 25th US Open as a wildcard entry, becoming the oldest singles player in the tournament since 1981, and expressed relief at playing pain-free.
Marries Andrea Preti
Venus Williams married Italian actor and producer Andrea Preti in two ceremonies, one in Italy and one in the USA.
Oldest Woman at Australian Open
Williams received a wildcard to the 2026 Australian Open, making her the oldest woman (45 years old) to compete in the main draw, though she lost in the first round.
Plays ATX Open
Williams accepted a wildcard to play singles and doubles at the 2026 ATX Open in Austin, Texas.
Competes in Miami Open
Williams was granted a wildcard to the 2026 Miami Open, marking her 23rd appearance at the tournament.
French Open Doubles Return
Williams returned to the French Open for the first time in five years, competing in the women's doubles draw with Hailey Baptiste.
Plays Bad Homburg Singles
Venus Williams is scheduled to play Irina-Camelia Begu in the first round of the Bad Homburg Open, continuing her 2026 season.
Wimbledon Doubles with Serena
Venus and Serena Williams are set to reunite and play women's doubles at Wimbledon 2026 after receiving a wildcard entry.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Venus Williams' journey in professional tennis is a testament to her unparalleled longevity and resilience. Turning professional in 1994 at just 14 years old, she quickly rose to prominence, reaching her first major final at the 1997 US Open and achieving the world No. 1 ranking in singles in 2002, becoming the first African-American woman in the Open Era to do so. Her career is decorated with seven Grand Slam singles titles (five Wimbledon, two US Open), 14 Grand Slam women's doubles titles with sister Serena, and four Olympic gold medals, making her the most decorated tennis player in Olympic history.
A significant turning point in Williams' career came in 2011 when she was diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder causing extreme fatigue and chronic pain. Despite this, she continued to compete, albeit with a more selective schedule. A more recent health battle involved uterine fibroids, which she had for nearly 30 years and underwent surgery to remove in 2024. This led to a 16-month hiatus from singles play, with many speculating about her retirement.
However, Williams made a remarkable comeback to the WTA Tour in July 2025, winning a singles match at the DC Open, becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004. She continued to play through the 2025 US Open, where she was the oldest singles player in the main draw since 1981, expressing relief at being able to play pain-free. In September 2025, Williams married actor Andrea Preti in two ceremonies.
In 2026, Williams has maintained an active presence on the tour. She received a wildcard to the Australian Open, becoming the oldest woman to compete in the main draw at 45 years old, though she lost in the first round. She also competed in the ATX Open in February 2026 and the Miami Open in March 2026, accepting wildcards for both. In May 2026, she made a historic return to the French Open for the first time in five years, competing in the doubles competition alongside Hailey Baptiste. Most recently, as of June 22, 2026, she is scheduled to play singles at Bad Homburg and has been granted a wildcard to play women's doubles at Wimbledon 2026 with her sister Serena. Beyond tennis, Williams continues to thrive as an entrepreneur with her activewear brand EleVen, interior design company V Starr, and involvement in other investments.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Venus Williams made different choices?