By Solé Scott
Editor-in-Chief
Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka did not come back to tennis merely to bask in their glory days, but to remind everyone that they never lost their power.
The 2025 US Open saw the return of two great women’s tennis players who I never thought I would see on the court again, let alone winning matches.
Naomi Osaka, who represents Japan, has not been at her peak in years, which is evident in recent games she has played.
After a loss at Wimbledon in 2024, Osaka held back tears as she spoke to the press.
“I’m just going to be a negative human being today. I’m so sorry, like I have nothing positive to say about myself,” Osaka said.
She has not won a Grand Slam title since 2021 because she has been dealing with her mental health and becoming a mother on top of a handful of injuries.
Venus Williams is a legendary athlete who ruled women’s tennis with her sister Serena Williams in the ’90s and the 2000s.
Williams played during a time where the sport was ruled predominantly by white people, and she had to fight for equal rights and most importantly, prize money.
“When you step out on the court, I don’t think anybody thinks about age. Because if you’re out on this tour, it means you deserve to be here. You’ve got the skill. It must mean you know how to play,” Williams said.
I am astounded that Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson were the first Black male and female to win Grand Slam titles in their respective times, yet only six Black people have won since 1957, and that includes Williams.
Tennis is no different than any other sport or industry for women as they age.
Society puts a timer on women and expects us to wither away into the background.
When the US Open began on Aug. 24, fans and analysts were doubtful of Osaka due to her time away. Others were curious, skeptical of Venus for her age and eager to see if she still had that magic.
This year, both ladies came out of semi-retirement to showcase the skills that have not left them.
For Osaka, that was a major improvement to her mental state, as she smiled and laughed more while sporting a labubu every match.
Even though both women lost the US Open, they proved all haters wrong by advancing in matches and beating women who are concurrently active in tennis.
Osaka made it to the semifinals before losing to world-ranked No. 4, Amanda Anisimova.
Osaka should be proud of her performance this year, as she is ranked No. 14 in the world after leaving the sport in 2022.
For Williams, I am proud of her accomplishments this year because she proved all the ageist commenters wrong, even if she lasted only one round. The energy at the Arthur Ashe Stadium was exhilarating the moment Williams walked on the court to when she left.
“The lights are very bright out there,” Williams said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a crowd that much on my side.”
