45-year-old Venus Williams to make French Open comeback after five years, will play doubles

At 45, Venus Williams is once again proving that age is just a number.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion is set to return to the French Open for the first time in five years, where she will compete in the women’s doubles event alongside rising American star Hailey Baptiste. Williams last played at Roland Garros in 2021, partnering Coco Gauff in doubles. Since then, injuries and lengthy breaks from the tour had fueled speculation that the former World No. 1 could be nearing retirement.

However, Williams has continued to defy expectations. In 2026, she has already featured in tournaments at Auckland, Hobart, the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Madrid, signaling her intent to remain active on the WTA Tour.

The American icon has enjoyed notable success in Paris throughout her career. While clay was never considered her preferred surface, Williams reached the French Open singles final in 2002 and won two women’s doubles titles at Roland Garros alongside sister Serena Williams. Across all Grand Slams, she owns seven singles titles and 14 women’s doubles crowns, in addition to four Olympic gold medals.

Venus shows no signs of stopping

Although results in singles have been inconsistent in recent years, Williams has continued to display the determination and competitive spirit that made her one of the sport’s biggest stars. At the 2026 Australian Open, she became the oldest woman to appear in the tournament’s main draw at age 45. Earlier this season, she also returned to clay in Madrid for the first time since the 2021 French Open.

Her doubles partnership with Baptiste could prove exciting to watch. The pair previously teamed up at the 2025 Washington Open and enjoyed a successful outing together.

Baptiste, 24, is currently in the middle of a breakthrough campaign. She reached the semifinals of the 2026 Madrid Open and stunned World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka after saving six match points in one of the biggest upsets of the season. The American has also climbed into the WTA Top 25 for the first time in her career.