Venus Williams made a return to the court Tuesday at the Libéma Open for her first match in more than five months.

The 42-year-old had not competed since the second round of the ASB Classic in New Zealand. in January. While she defeated Katie Volynets in the match, she suffered a hamstring injury, forcing her to withdraw from that tournament and from the Australian Open.

Her comeback came via wild-card entry to the Libéma Open. The first-round match marked her first time playing in the Netherlands and her first singles tournament on grass since Wimbledon in 2021. (She participated in mixed doubles at Wimbledon last year.)

Competing against Celine Naef, Williams won her first set 6-3 but lost the second set in a tiebreak 7-6 (7-3). Naef, a 17-year-old who also received a wild-card entry to the tournament, took the third set 6-2 to win the match.

Among those in attendance to watch the match was Venus’ younger sister Serena Williams, who announced her retirement from tennis last year. In May, she announced that she is pregnant with her second child.

Venus Williams will not play in this year’s Australian Open after withdrawing for an undisclosed injury.

Williams suffered the injury while playing in a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this week.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion had received a wild-card entry into the year’s first major. It would have been her 22nd Grand Slam at Melbourne Park. She has not played at the Australian Open since 2021.

“I’ve been competing in the country for over 20 years now and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly,” she said when granted her wild-card entry.

Williams has struggled with injuries in recent years, but had begun 2023 positively with a win in an Auckland tournament – her first tour-level singles match in a year and a half.

Australian Kim Birrell has been granted a wild-card in place of Williams.

Venus Williams will make her 22nd appearance at the Australian Open in January after being awarded a wild-card entry to play in the first major of 2023.

The 42-year-old made her first appearance at the Australian Open 25 years ago.

“I’ve been competing in the country for over 20 years now and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly,” Williams said in a statement. “It will be an honor to play for the fans again and I’m looking forward to making more memories at the tournament this year.”

Williams hasn’t played in a singles match since the 2022 US Open, where she lost in the first round to Alison Van Uytvanck.

When asked about her future following the match, Williams said that she was “just focused on the doubles.” The 42-year-old played doubles at the tournament with sister Serena, 41, for the first time since 2014, but they lost in the opening round.

A two-time finalist at the Australian Open, she hasn’t played in that tournament since 2021.

“Venus is not just an incredible player and fan favorite, she’s a great role model and leader in our sport in so many ways,” Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said.

Women’s sports showed up and showed out at Monday’s Met Gala, trading sportswear for designer duds inspired by the event’s 2022 theme, “Gilded Glamour.”

Venus Williams walked the Met Gala red carpet in a custom Chloé tux. Hairstylist Nikki Nelms opted for a bedazzled look for the tennis star, while makeup artist Karina Milan continued the beaded theme, creating a statement eye to tie the look together.

Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim also made an appearance, wearing a feathered Giambattista Valli gown. The red and white ensemble was complemented the athlete’s bold red lip.

Retired tennis star Caroline Wozniacki donned a playful Christian Siriano cut-out dress with puffed blue sleeves. The 31-year-old walked the red carpet with her husband, David Lee, with whom she welcomed a baby girl last June.

Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu attended the Met Gala after a banner Beijing Games. The skier opted for an edgy leather mini dress by Louis Vuitton paired with knee-high boots.

Venus Williams will not be competing in the Australian Open, the tennis icon confirmed Friday.

Williams joins sister Serena in pulling out of the Grand Slam, marking the first time since 1997 that the Australian Open will go on without both Williams sisters.

Venus last took the court in August for Chicago’s WTA 250 tournament, contending with a leg injury that has dropped the 41-year-old to No. 318 in the world rankings.

Serena announced in December that she would be skipping the Australian Open, still tending to a right hamstring injury that forced the American star to withdraw from Wimbledon in June.

Since her first appearance in 1998, Venus has only missed three Australian Opens.

The Melbourne Grand Slam is set to kick off on Jan. 17.

Athletes are speaking out and passing on their condolences in the wake of fashion designer Virgil Abloh’s passing.

The 41-year-old fashion designer, who was the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection and CEO of Off-White, passed away on Sunday after a private,  multi-year battle with cancer.

“I’m devastated by the passing of Virgil Abloh,” Venus Williams wrote on social media. “I love him so much. I always watched everything he did so closely and it inspired me to be better in everything I do.

“His collections literally brought me to tears because they were so connected so beautiful and so inspiring.”

Abloh had a hand in designing many of Serena Williams’ looks both on and off the court, which Venus highlighted in her post.

USWNT star Megan Rapinoe also paid tribute, sending love to Abloh’s family while saying that the designer “changed the world.”

Orlando Pride and USWNT goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who has long been a fan of Abloh’s, called the news “heartbreaking.”

“Thank you for showing us what is possible and bringing us along the ride with you,” she wrote. “You have inspired us all greatly.”