Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Venus Williams Returns to Roland-Garros Doubles with Baptiste

5/16/2026

50 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Venus Doubles

Venus Williams will play doubles with Hailey Baptiste at the French Open, her first Roland-Garros appearance in five years, and she will skip singles.
She last competed at Roland-Garros in 2021 and previously won doubles titles there in 1999 and 2010 with sister Serena.
After uterine fibroid surgery in 2024, she described her return as frightening and exhilarating and became the oldest woman in the Australian Open main draw.

Summary

Venus Commentates

TNT Sports will broadcast Venus Williams (tennis player) as a commentator at the 2026 French Open when not playing.
It is her second consecutive year balancing competition with a Grand Slam media role.
Williams and 24-year-old Hailey Baptiste, who partnered at the 2025 DC Open, earned direct entry into the women's doubles draw, avoiding a wildcard.
The women's doubles competition runs from May 24 through June 7, 2026, in Paris.

Summary

Baptiste Upsets

Hailey Baptiste upset World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open semifinals, highlighting her recent form.
She then reached the third round of the Italian Open in Rome, confirming her clay consistency before Roland Garros.
Venus Williams missed the Italian Open while co-chairing the Met Gala, a disappointment she shares with her husband, and will focus on TNT Sports commentary if she does not receive a mixed-doubles wildcard.

History

Historical Context

Billie Jean King’s 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” win over Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome—broadcast to about 50 million U.S. viewers and earning $100,000—proved women’s tennis could draw mass audiences and helped secure equal prize money at the US Open that year. Decades later, former champion Venus Williams returns to the French Open doubles draw while commentating for TNT Sports, echoing King’s athlete-media legacy.

1 of 4

Venus Doubles

Venus Williams will play doubles with Hailey Baptiste at the French Open, her first Roland-Garros appearance in five years, and she will skip singles.
She last competed at Roland-Garros in 2021 and previously won doubles titles there in 1999 and 2010 with sister Serena.
After uterine fibroid surgery in 2024, she described her return as frightening and exhilarating and became the oldest woman in the Australian Open main draw.

1 / 4