London: Venus Williams arrived at Wimbledon last week without any competition. But then he changed his mind.
“I had no plans to play,” Williams said Friday. “I saw the grass and I was excited.”
Her coach contacted five-time major mixed doubles and two-time doubles champion Jamie Murray to see if he would play Williams, and they agreed. On Friday night, the new pair defeated Eliza Rosolska and Michael Venus 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in a two-hour first-round match on the No. 1 court in front of a packed crowd. And 18 minutes.
This was Williams’ first match since August 2021. Both Venus and sister Serena had predicted retirement this season due to a lack of play, but then Serena announced her return to the competition earlier this month; She played doubles at Eastbourne and then lost to Harmony Tan in her first Wimbledon singles match on Tuesday.
Venus originally insisted that she would not join Serena as a contestant in her Instagram story soon after Serena’s revelation, but then she appeared on the practice court at the All England Club. She and Murray pleaded and were granted late wild-card access and were announced in the mixed doubles draw on Wednesday.
“It was definitely the last minute,” Williams said Friday, “just inspired by Serena.”
Murray said Williams had asked him to play at Wimbledon last year, but due to injury he was unable to play in the doubles and mixed doubles.
“Can’t tell twice,” he said of the opportunity.
Williams said she wasn’t sure how she would get on the court after such a long absence, and credited Murray for giving “so much help today.”
The two said they enjoyed the match and are playing together.
“It was fun,” Murray said. “For me, I wanted to get out of it. Playing with Venus Williams was a wonderful experience. When will I get a chance to do it?”
Although this is their first time playing together, it is not the first Williams-Murray partnership at Wimbledon. His younger siblings, Serena and Andy, joined the All England Club in 2019 and reached the third round.
Williams and Murray will play Alicia Barnett and Johnny O’Mara next Sunday.