Venus Williams Returns to French Open at 45 After Health Battle

Tennis legend Venus Williams, aged 45, is set to make her return to the French Open for the first time in five years, marking a significant milestone in her comeback following a debilitating health struggle. She will compete in the doubles competition alongside 24-year-old partner Hailey Baptiste, having previously teamed up with her at the 2025 DC Open. Williams will not participate in the singles event. This announcement follows her historic appearance at the Australian Open in January 2026, where she became the oldest woman to play in the main draw. Her return comes after undergoing surgery in 2024 to remove uterine fibroids, a condition that affected her health and career for nearly three decades with symptoms including intense pain and anemia. Williams has spoken openly about her lack of awareness regarding fibroid symptoms and the severity of her condition, which notably led to a collapse at Wimbledon in 2016. Despite losing her opening match in Australia, she expressed gratitude for the crowd's support and joy in returning to the court, highlighting her resilience and inspiring journey back to professional tennis.