Venus Williams to join sister Serena as she makes singles comeback aged 42

Venus Williams has announced she will play her first singles match in almost a year at the National Bank Open in Toronto. 

The US star has accepted a wildcard into the main draw and will join her sister, Serena, in competing. 

Williams has not played a singles match since the Chicago Women’s Open last August, where she lost in the first round to Hsieh Su-Wei. 

As a result, many speculated the 42-year-old may be calling time on her hall-of-fame-worthy singles career, but it appears Williams is not done just yet. 

This will be Williams’ 11th appearance in Toronto, however, it has not been a happy hunting ground for the former world number one. 

Williams made her debut in the event way back in 1995 as a 15-year-old wild-card entry but lost to Sabine Appelmans in the opening round. 

Her record at the tournament currently stands at 2-7 and she is yet to make it beyond the third round. 

Despite her lacklustre record at the event, Williams has always been an accomplished player on hard courts and won back-to-back US Opens in 2000 and 2001. 

Speaking of her return to the tournament, Williams said: “I love the city, the tournament, and I look forward to being back in Toronto.”

BREAKING: Venus Williams has been awarded a wild card to compete in the 2022 National Bank Open in Toronto. “I love the city, the tournament, and I look forward to being back in Toronto.”#NBO22 pic.twitter.com/IN7RW7jCoA

Remarkably, Williams turned professional way back in 1994, aged just 14. 

As depicted in the biopic King Richard, Williams’ father was sceptical about her turning pro at first but the American reached her first Grand Slam final just three years later in New York. 

Since then, Williams has won seven major singles titles, including five at