Venus Williams of the United States returns a shot from Diana Shnaider of Russia during her women’s singles match during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 19, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Brennan Asplen/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Brennan Asplen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams, who has not played in a tournament since March of 2024, has accepted a wildcard entry into the WTA and ATP DC Open, organizers said Friday.
The 45-year-old American, listed as inactive on the WTA Tour website, has not played a tour event since losing a first-round match last year at Miami.
READ: Venus Williams gets wild-card entry for Indian Wells at 44
The five-time Wimbledon winner and two-time US Open champion is set to compete in the Washington tournament that runs from July 21-27.
“I’m excited to accept a wild card to the DC Open. There’s something truly special about DC: the energy, the fans, the history,” Williams said. “This city has always shown me so much love and I can’t wait to compete there again.”
Former world number one Williams played in the event in 2022 and competed several years for Washington in World Team Tennis.
READ: Venus Williams suffers her most lopsided US Open loss
Williams won Olympic singles gold in 2000 at Sydney and alongside younger sister Serena captured women’s doubles gold in 2000, 2008 and 2012.
Williams,who has won 49 career singles titles and 22 doubles crowns, has Sjogren’s syndrome, an auto-immune disease that can leave people weakened and with joint pain.
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