Venus Williams suggested this week that she only returned to tennis to get back on the WTA’s health insurance. Venus Williams just came back from a 16-month break from professional tennis. But she didn’t return because she missed playing — rather, she missed her health insurance.

Venus Williams returned to tennis this week, winning her first tour-level match in two years. She says she returned to the court, in part, to keep her health insurance. “I had to come back for the insurance because they informed me earlier this year that I’m on COBRA!

Venus Williams' inspiring run at the 2025 Citi DC Open ended Thursday. The legendary tennis player lost to No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in the round of 16. Frech will face No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina after defeating Williams in their first career head-to-head matchup.

The 45-year-old had been away from the tour for 16 months before showing up in Washington this week and winning once each in singles and doubles.

WASHINGTON — Venus Williams took the Mubadala Citi DC Open by storm.

The only older woman to win a tour-level singles match was Martina Navratilova, whose last triumph came at 47 in 2004.

Venus Williams is officially off the market. The 45-year-old tennis legend confirmed her engagement to Italian actor Andrea Preti ( Temptation and My Beloved Enemy) during a post-match interview Tuesday night (July 22) after securing a historic victory at the DC Open.

Venus Williams’ winning return to the professional tennis tour also came with a surprise announcement: She is engaged.

The comments by the tennis great draw attention to the broader crisis of health care affordability and medical debt.