VENUS WILLIAMS will be forced into paying £195 in order to keep playing professional tennis.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion is one of the modern greats of the sport.
However, she has barely played in recent times.
And now the American is at risk of losing her professional licence.
Williams, 44, last played a competitive match as a wildcard at the Miami Open on March 18, 2024.
But after rejecting a wildcard for this month’s prestigious Indian Wells tournament – dubbed the ‘fifth Grand Slam’ – and also reportedly the ongoing Miami Open, she will go a full year without entering a competition.
Williams is understood to be fit and not injured and has turned down plenty of opportunities to return to the court – declining the Indian Wells offer because she had “already made commitments”.
She spends much of her time running her V Starr interior design business rather than playing tennis.
And now she risks being deemed inactive by the WTA Tour at the end of March.
Williams, ranked at world No1151, has not played enough to be a full or even an associate member of the WTA Tour.
And therefore in order to make her comeback, Williams will need to fill out an annual player form and pay the £195 ($250) administration fee.
As of June 2024, Williams no longer needed to keep tennis’ anti-doping testers updated with daily details of her whereabouts.
She turned pro all the way back in 1994 – a staggering 31 years ago – and was diagnosed with autoimmune condition Sjogren in 2011.
However, despite not winning a tennis match since August 2023, Williams has still refused to retire.
And she could request a wildcard at Wimbledon in the summer, where she is a five-time singles champ.
Venus won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles plus three Olympic gold medals alongside sister Serena.
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