At 45, Venus Williams proved that age is just a number as she made a remarkable return to the WTA Tour at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. After a year-long hiatus, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion triumphed 6-3, 6-4 over world No. 35 Peyton Stearns in a thrilling first-round match.
A Dominant Performance After a Long Break
Williams had not played a WTA Tour match since March 2024 and had not won one since 2023, leaving her without a ranking on the WTA website. Despite these setbacks, she walked onto the stadium court as if her career was just beginning. She displayed a powerful game, hitting thumping forehands and backhands that pushed Stearns off the baseline and forced errors. The match marked her 819th career victory.
A Tale of Two Halves
The match started with Stearns and Williams trading breaks of serve, but soon Williams took control, dictating the play and forcing Stearns into uncomfortable positions. Williams sealed the first set with a big serve and a kicker that Stearns couldn’t return, closing it out 6-3.
In the second set, Williams initially faltered, allowing Stearns to break back and take a 3-1 lead. However, Williams regained her composure and began to assert herself, winning four consecutive games to move ahead. Although Stearns saved four match points while serving at 3-5, Williams finally sealed the match on her fifth attempt, hitting a big serve that Stearns returned into the net.
A Triumphant Return
Venus Williams’ victory at the Citi Open generated widespread buzz, with fans rallying behind her as she showed that, despite her age, she can still compete at the highest level. This win marks a triumphant return to tennis for the legend, and she now looks forward to her next challenge against Poland’s Magdalena Fręch.
In her on-court interview, Williams shared that her fiancé, Italian film star Andrea Preti, encouraged her to come back to the sport. Despite the struggles, she was glad she made the decision, saying, “It’s just about putting it all together. I wanted to play a good match and win the match.”
Williams isn’t the oldest woman to win a WTA Tour singles match, as Martina Navratilova won at 47 in 2004, but at 45, this victory against a top-35 player is still a remarkable achievement.
