Venus Williams has completely defied the odds over the last week, with her performances at the Washington Open.
Granted a wild card to enter both the singles and the doubles, naturally, fans clamoured to catch a glimpse of the legendary 45-year-old in action once again.
After all, it had been way over a year since her last appearance on the tour, and many wondered when her next might come, if ever.
However, it really feels like she’s here to stay, at least for this US hard-court swing, where the American should be guaranteed entry into whatever event she pleases.
Having already shocked many by winning her opening-round matches in both the singles and the doubles, she eventually ran out of steam, with last night marking the end of her solo run.
Cut short by Polish player Magdalena Fręch, Williams provided fans with a fitness update immediately after her loss.
Venus Williams shares how she’s feeling physically after her Washington Open run
Speaking to the Washington Open reporters, naturally, many were keen to see how her body had reacted to such a tough week of tennis.
After all, she has done what few others in the sport have ever managed, becoming the second-oldest woman to have ever won a WTA match, behind only Martina Navratilova.
Asked about how she prepared physically for her return, and how she’s holding up, Venus Williams was naturally quite playful in her reply: “I never got out of shape, so you’d have to talk to someone who let themself go. (Laughter.)
“That’s not my thing. I stayed in shape. Even if I wasn’t playing tennis, I was always in the gym. So I think the only difference now is I think I’m just tighter, but I have always been a very tight individual anyway, so my muscles are even tighter, which maybe is good or maybe is bad.
“But physically, I feel pretty much the same, like I don’t have major injuries that are like killing me or anything like that. When you play on tour, something comes up, trust me. You have no idea what goes on for players to get out on the court. Something happens. You’re trying to fix things.
“That part is normal, but I don’t have, like, chronic this or chronic that or this is a disaster, I’m holding it together with staples and paper clips. I don’t have any of that with my body. It’s a blessing, knock on wood.”
Venus Williams should be guaranteed unlimited wild cards
During this run, Andy Roddick spoke about whether Venus Williams deserved a US Open wild card.
Realistically, she should be allowed to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants, when it comes to tennis.
Her service to this sport has been magnificent, and what she and her sister Serena accomplished was nothing short of legendary.
Both on and off the court, they blazed a path that has allowed so many women just like them to emerge into a sport previously cut off.
When someone has given their all to tennis and won almost everything the sport has to offer, they should be allowed to do as they see fit until their eventual retirement.
Venus Williams is at the top of this list and, especially in America, should have every option possible available to her.
