At 45 years old, Venus Williams delivered a stirring performance at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, claiming a 6–3, 6–4 victory over world No. 35 Peyton Stearns, and in doing so, became the second‑oldest woman in the Open Era to win a tour‑level singles match. Her triumph on July 22, 2025 marked her first singles victory in nearly two years, shortly after undergoing surgery in early 2024 to remove uterine fibroids. Before this match, her last tour‑level singles win dated back to August 2023 in Cincinnati.
Martina Navratilova remains the only woman to surpass this feat, having won a WTA match at age 47 in 2004—placing Venus just shy of that historic milestone. Venus’ victory resonates not just for its statistical significance but for its symbolism: a comeback narrative steeped in resilience, passion, and unyielding willpower. As she herself put it, “Even though I don’t have to do this, I have the same fire and want to win”.
This comeback began in doubles: on July 21, alongside Hailey Baptiste, Venus won their first‑round match in straight sets over Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue. Then, just 24 hours later, she returned to singles competition after a 16‑month hiatus, entering the DC Open as a wildcard.
In her singles opener, Venus faced Stearns—22 years younger—and delivered a measured performance highlighted by a 110 mph serve and nine aces, dominating many key points during the 1‑hour‑37‑minute battle. Stearns had captured NCAA singles and team championships for the University of Texas but fell to the legend in straight sets.
The match unfolded as a testament to Venus’s enduring skillset and mental fortitude. Despite expressing uncertainty during her training blocks—“Some weeks… I don’t know if I’m good enough yet” —she pushed through and asserted herself when needed most, closing the match on her sixth match point with a 112 mph serve that sealed the victory.
With this milestone, Williams has now competed in at least one professional match in 32 consecutive seasons, surpassing even Martina Navratilova’s record of 26 seasons—an unmatched level of longevity and dedication in modern tennis.
Her next opponent is fifth-seeded Magdalena Frech of Poland, whom she will face in the second round. Looking ahead, speculation is building that she may receive a wildcard entry into the 2025 US Open this August, fueling excitement about how much longer her journey may continue.
Venus’s reflections after the win were imbued with gratitude and determination. She spoke about the mental challenge of returning to elite level competition and how her enduring love for tennis keeps her going, even amid doubts and physical setbacks.
In capturing this victory, Venus Williams has reminded the tennis world that age is not a barrier to competitiveness at the highest level. Her return to winning tennis underscores a career defined by defiance, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of excellence—even 45 years in.
