“It’s not easy to come back after all that time and play the perfect match.” – Venus Williams
At 45 years old, Venus Williams made history as the second-oldest woman ever to win a WTA Tour-level singles match, and the oldest to do so in over 20 years. She defeated 23-year-old Peyton Stearns in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, at the DC Open — marking her first singles victory in nearly two years.
Williams had been out of action since March 2024 following surgery to remove uterine fibroids. She joked that her comeback was partly motivated by the need for health insurance, saying, “They told me I was on COBRA, so I had to get my benefits. I’m always at the doctor!”
Despite the long layoff, Venus impressed with nine aces and aggressive play, breaking Stearns early and maintaining control throughout the match. She now moves on to face Poland’s fifth seed Magdalena Frech in the second round.
Williams is also competing in doubles with fellow American Hailey Baptiste. The pair won their first-round match and will next face Australian Open champions Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai.