Tennis-Venus Williams to play at Washington Open

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 29, 2023 Venus Williams of the U.S. reacts after losing her first round match against Belgium's Greet Minnen REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

(Reuters) -Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will compete at a WTA event for the first time in 16 months after she accepted a wildcard for this month's Washington Open.

The 45-year-old Williams has not competed since the Miami Open in March 2024 and has not won a match since defeating Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in the first round of the Cincinnati Open in August 2023.