Venus Williams has announced she will play her first singles match in almost a year at the National Bank Open in Toronto. 

The US star has accepted a wildcard into the main draw and will join her sister, Serena, in competing. 

Williams has not played a singles match since the Chicago Women’s Open last August, where she lost in the first round to Hsieh Su-Wei. 

As a result, many speculated the 42-year-old may be calling time on her hall-of-fame-worthy singles career, but it appears Williams is not done just yet. 

Williams’ history in Toronto 

This will be Williams’ 11th appearance in Toronto, however, it has not been a happy hunting ground for the former world number one. 

Williams made her debut in the event way back in 1995 as a 15-year-old wild-card entry but lost to Sabine Appelmans in the opening round. 

Her record at the tournament currently stands at 2-7 and she is yet to make it beyond the third round. 

Despite her lacklustre record at the event, Williams has always been an accomplished player on hard courts and won back-to-back US Opens in 2000 and 2001. 

Speaking of her return to the tournament, Williams said: “I love the city, the tournament, and I look forward to being back in Toronto.”

Williams’ 28-year career continues

Remarkably, Williams turned professional way back in 1994, aged just 14. 

As depicted in the biopic King Richard, Williams’ father was sceptical about her turning pro at first but the American reached her first Grand Slam final just three years later in New York. 

Since then, Williams has won seven major singles titles, including five at Wimbledon. 

Alongside Serena, she has also won 14 doubles Grand Slams, which includes all four majors at least twice. 

Her last singles title came back in 2016 at the Taiwan Open –– the 49th tournament victory of her career. 

Serena also set to play in Canada 

Meanwhile, Serena Williams has also announced she will play in Toronto. 

Unlike Venus, Serena has been extremely successful at the event in the past, winning it three times in 2001, 2011 and 2013. 

The 40-year-old made her singles return at Wimbledon earlier this month but lost in the first round to France’s Harmony Tan. 

Currently, Williams remains in search of a record-equalling 24th major title, though she has not yet confirmed whether she will compete at the US Open this year. 

Serena has also announced she will play at the Cincinnati Open in August, joining a stacked field that includes world number one Iga Swiatek. 

The National Bank Open will take place the week before Cincinnati, from August, 6th-14th.