Venus Williams made a historic return to the tennis court on Monday, July 21, becoming the second oldest woman ever to win a WTA Tour-level singles match after defeating world number 35 Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open.
The 45-year-old American beat her 23-year-old compatriot 6-3, 6-4 in a commanding first-round performance. The victory marks Williams’ first singles win since August 2023 and makes her the oldest woman to win a WTA singles match since Martina Navratilova, who won at age 47 in 2004.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world number one, gained entry to the tournament via a wildcard. She had not played since March 2024 and was listed as ‘inactive’ by the WTA following a 16-month break from competitive tennis.
William Stays True to Herself in Powerful Comeback Statement
Despite the long absence, she delivered a vintage performance, showcasing strong movement and powerful serves that surprised many, including her opponent.
“She played some ball tonight,” Stearns said after the match. “She was moving really well, which I wasn’t expecting too much, honestly. Her serves were just on fire.”
In a post-match interview, Williams dismissed the notion that she returned to silence critics.
“No, because I’m not here for anyone else except for me,” she said. “I have nothing to prove. Zip. Zero. I’m here for me because I want to be here. And proving anyone wrong or thinking about anyone has never gotten me a win and has never gotten me a loss.”
In addition to her singles campaign, Williams also returned to doubles action on Monday, partnering with fellow American Hailey Baptiste. The pair defeated Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the last 16.
Williams, who won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her sister Serena, had already won four major singles titles by the time Stearns was born in 2001.
She will next face Poland’s fifth seed Magdalena Frech in the second round of the Washington Open.
