Venus admits to AO change of heart

Venus Williams confessed to a head fade with the media after showing up as an Australian open wild card despite denying her plans four month ago.

“You’ve got to throw some red herrings, right?,” the 45-year-old said. “I was getting married. I had two weddings coming up. 

“It was a busy time for me, so I was focused on that.”

The oldest woman ever to compete in AO singles reached the final 23 years ago and last played the event five years ago.

She made her debut here as a 17-year-old in 1998, reaching the quarter-finals out of the box.

Despite playing just four – and losing three – matches last season, the veteran says she is ready to compete.

“I was training nonstop those three months (last autumn), There were periods where I was super busy so I’d have to take a week off here or three days off there.

“But for the most part I was training and trying to get myself back in the groove.

I’m getting so many things right, but there has been a lack of playing matches.”

Main photo:- US Open Flushing Meadows 29/08/2023 Day 2
Wildcard Venus Williams (USA) loses first round match 6-1 6-1 in just one hour 13 minutes to qualifier Greet Minnen (BEL) and Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd