Venus Williams will compete in her first American tournament since the 2025 US Open when she appears at the ATX Open. She is scheduled to face Ajla Tomljanovic in the opening round, the same player who eliminated her sister Serena at the previous US Open. The event will also feature prominent names such as Dubai champion Jessica Pegula and 2019 US Open winner Bianca Andreescu. In preparation, Williams trained with Britain’s Fran Jones to sharpen her skills before the competition.
Fran Jones Shares Experience Training with Venus Williams
Following their practice in Austin, Fran Jones posted a photo on Instagram capturing her session alongside the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion. Jones, who has not played a WTA Tour match since her retirement after losing to Linda Klimovicova at the Australian Open, is now returning to competition. As she prepares for her first-round match against Peyton Stearns, Jones expressed enthusiasm about training with Williams, writing:
Back on tour. Decent first hit.
Despite winning three singles titles earlier in 2026 at the ASB Classic, Hobart International, and the Australian Open, Williams has yet to secure a victory this season.
Potential Matchup Between Venus Williams and Fran Jones at the ATX Open
Both Williams and Jones are positioned in the bottom half of the ATX Open draw, making a meeting possible but unlikely before the semi-finals. Williams could face a challenging second round against Iva Jovic, who is 27 years her junior. Meanwhile, Jones aims to upset Stearns in the opening round and then confront the seeded Anna Bondar before potentially reaching the semi-finals. This tournament represents an important opportunity for Jones to improve her ranking following her recent break.
