After loss to Coco Gauff, Venus Williams returns to San Jose event

Venus Williams has committed to play in San Jose later this month, her second straight appearance in the event.

She will play her opening match of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in the night session July 30 after reaching the 2018 quarterfinals. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is in the field for the 15th time, though the tournament moved from Stanford to San Jose last year.

The 39-year-old Williams, whose last match was a first-round loss to 15-year-old Cori Gauff at Wimbledon, will be a wild-card entry in the tournament.

Gauff, meanwhile, is still adjusting to her new status following her run to the fourth round.

At just 15, she came through qualifying and then defeated childhood idol Williams in the first round before falling to eventual champion Simona Halep.

"Definitely playing Venus was my favorite moment—you dream of it so many times but then actually doing it, I still don't believe it," she said to local TV upon her return to Florida a few days ago. "I don’t know when I’m going to come back down and finally get back to normal."

Gauff's performance was the biggest story of the first half of the tournament, making international news. From playing her idols, she's gone to being one herself.

"I’ve gotten so many messages saying that have been looking up to me and I guess it’s a big responsibility but again, I feel honored I inspired somebody," she said.

The tour's age eligibility rules restrict the amount of events she can play, and Gauff said she plans to play one event before the US Open, where she can receive a wild card.

Gauff rose to No. 141 in the rankings; Williams is No. 53.