Venus to return for her 15th WTT season

Venus Williams, who turned 40 on June 17, will play for the Washington Kastles
in World TeamTennis this summer. 2018 photo by Mal Taam 

   Venus Williams – who has won 23 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals and played on five World TeamTennis championship teams – will play for the Washington Kastles in her 15th WTT season, the league announced today.
   The season is scheduled for July 12-Aug. 2 at The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.V.
   Of Williams' Grand Slam titles, seven have come in singles (five at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open), 14 in women's doubles and two in mixed doubles. 
   In the Olympics, Williams won gold medals in singles in 2000 (Sydney) and doubles with younger sister Serena in 2000, 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London).

   Venus Williams, who turned 40 on June 17, made her professional debut indoors in Oakland at 14 years old in 1994. She reached the final of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford eight times, winning in 2000 and 2002. The tournament moved to San Jose State University as the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in 2018.
   In 2011, Williams was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an incurable energy-sapping disease.
   Williams will join Frances Tiafoe, Marcelo Arevalo, Bernarda Pera, Nick Monroe and Arina Rodionova on the Kastles.
   Williams led Washington to the King Trophy in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. She won her first King Trophy as a member of the Philadelphia Freedoms in 2006.