How Can Venus Williams Play Tokyo Olympics 2021 Alongside Serena Williams

With 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic golds – Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 – there hasn’t been a more lethal and successful doubles pair in the history of women’s tennis than Venus and Serena Williams.

But there’s a fear that the tennis world might not see the Williams sisters hunting in pairs at the Tokyo Olympics.

The younger Williams, who has been experiencing a seemingly unending title drought in Grand Slams and suffered her latest heartbreak in the fourth-round at Roland-Garros on Sunday, still hasn’t committed to playing in Tokyo.

And, given the recent history where Serena has been prioritizing events to keep herself fresh and motivated for the Majors and other marquee events, one fears that the 39-year-old might not travel to the Japanese capital.

Venus Williams paired up with Coco Gauff at the French Open

Also, the fact that Venus agreed to pair up with fellow American and teen tennis sensation Coco Gauff for the French Grand Slam might be a hint of what is to come in Tokyo.

With Venus into the forties now and playing singles only out of her love for tennis and not with any real ambition, doubles is her only chance of joining forces with her younger sibling again.

After suffering a soul-crushing semi-final exit at the Australian Open at the hands of eventual champion Naomi Osaka, Serena took a break from the Tour.

However, her return to action in Rome ended in disappointment as she lost her tournament opener, which was the 1000th match of her career, to unheralded Argentine Nadia Podoroska.

Sensing the need to get more matches under her belt after her Rome ouster, the younger Williams took a wildcard entry to WTA Parma.

However, her plan to take some wins and confidence from Parma into Paris was defeated as she suffered an early exit at the hands of Czech star Katarina Siniakova.

That didn’t seem to affect her play at Roland-Garros as Serena got herself into the second week of the tournament on the back of three straight wins.

But with her campaign ending in another morale-shattering loss to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, and Wimbledon offering her best chance of Grand Slam glory this year, as many seem to suggest, Tokyo Olympics could well be far from her plans going forward.

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Venus-Gauff pair lost in the opening round of French Open

Meanwhile, the Venus-Gauff pairing didn’t get off to the best of starts as they were beaten in the opening round at Roland-Garros and there, perhaps, isn’t enough time between now and the Olympics, for them to hit it off in time for the Games.

Though chances aren’t that bright, don’t rule out Venus and Serena returning for one last Olympic dance yet.

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The final call on the same, however, will rest with the US Tennis Association.