An emotional Venus Williams fought back tears while candidly speaking to the media after she was eliminated from the US Open in the first round Monday .

Then, her press conference was cut short.

Williams, 45, was playing her first Grand Slam match in two years after battling multiple health issues, and lost in three sets to 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova.

Venus Williams returns a shot during her first-round match at the US Open on Aug. 25, 2025. Andrew Schwartz/SIPA/Shutterstock

She was asked afterwards if she proved anything to herself due to her valiant showing.

“Oh, what did I prove to myself? I think, for me, getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy,” Williams said. “When you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind, it’s not just how you feel — yo

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