Venus Williams shocked her fans by bravely opening up about a surgery she had for an issue that had impacted her for many years.
Williams returned to professional tennis after a 16-month absence at the 2025 Citi Open in Washington. She thrilled the home crowd by defeating Peyton Stearns in the opening round before being defeated by Magdalena Frech.
A player making a comeback at age 45 is remarkable regardless of any other circumstances. Due to her legendary status, the seven-time Grand Slam champion's involvement on the WTA Tour will always be beneficial.
However, a revelation Williams made on Instagram made her return in Washington even more incredible. The American revealed she had surgery 12 months ago to remove fibroids and a focal adenomyoma.
"On this day, 1 year ago I was having surgery, an open myomectomy to remove fibroids and a large focal adenomyoma that was embedded in the muscle of my uterus."
Williams then shockingly revealed that she had been misdiagnosed for several years, which led to her suffering in multiple ways. It also impacted her ability to be successful on the court.
"I was told I was inoperable. I was told I could bleed to death on the table. I was told to get a surrogate and forget the hope to carry my own children. I was misdiagnosed. I went untreated for years and years and years. It’s so important to advocate for your health!"
"I suffered from severe anemia, debilitating pain, excessive bleeding and abnormally frequent menstrual cycles for many years. It affected my tennis and the trajectory of my career."
The former world No. 1 told the story because she does not want other women to endure what she did. Williams also thanked all those who supported her through the challenging times.
"I told my story so other women don’t have to go through this and so they can get better sooner. Thank you @drshirazian (my hero!) and @nyulangone for spearheading my pathway to health, getting me back to the sport I love and for helping to build awareness for this very curable issue."
"I play tennis now because I can play healthier than ever, it is a dream come true! Thanks @laralucaslulu, @ladyisha01, @andreapreti88, @isabelbrigido_, and Li Fang the dream team that took care of me and my little puppy Harold when I couldn’t!"
Her post also mentioned preparing for the US Open. It is unclear whether Venus, who has a wild card for the upcoming 2025 Cincinnati Open, meant she would be in the singles draw or just the mixed doubles with Reilly Opelka, which was already announced.
"I played my first tournament in over 16 months( thank you @markdein1 @mubadalacitidcopen!) and I am now preparing to play the @usopen. This post is in celebration of the last day of fibroid awareness month. There can be happy endings!"
Venus's being in a good place is wonderful news. She and her sister Serena Williams inspire millions worldwide, and this latest story only adds to that.
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