Is Venus Williams Retired? Why Tennis Star Isn't Playing at the French Open

Updated: Sep 10, 5:00pm UTC

We are one step closer to the 2023 French Open after Thursday's draw. One notable name missing was star Venus Williams, though, which has prompted questions about her playing status.

Here's what fans need to know about Williams' absence from the 2023 French Open.

Why is Venus Williams Not Playing 2023 French Open?

Venus Williams not being part of the field at the 2023 French Open isn't due to retirement. The 42-year-old suffered a leg injury at an event in New Zealand this past January, and revealed soon after in a YouTube video that she had "some tears in the hamstring attachment."

This ailment has sidelined her since, with the all-time great being forced to withdraw from the Austrlian Open after previously receiving a wild-card spot. Williams has been unable to play in any tournaments as she recovers and won't be ready to play at the French Open.

Williams' absence will certainly be felt at Roland Garros. The former world No. 1 has captured two doubles titles here (1999, 2010) and made 24 appearances in the singles tournament over her illustrious career.

Check out more French Open content from The Duel:

Did Venus Williams Retire From Tennis?

No, Venus Williams is not retired from tennis. Though her sister, Serena, has stepped away from the sport, the 42-year-old remains active on the tour. Venus' limited appearances in 2023 are due to the serious hamstring injury she suffered in January, as mentioned above.

Williams was planning to play in the 2023 Australian Open, but her ailment has sidelined her from competitive play while she recovers.

Isaiah De Los Santos is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Isaiah De Los Santos also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username zayyy05328. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.