Venus Williams made history once again on Tuesday night in Washington, becoming the oldest woman to win a WTA singles match in over two decades after defeating world No 35 Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 at the Mubadala Citi DC Open.
The 45-year-old, playing her first singles match of the year, delivered a performance filled with grit, poise, and power to overcome a much younger and higher-ranked opponent. The victory not only marked her first singles win since 2022 but also made her the oldest WTA match-winner since Martina Navratilova won at Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 47.
Williams, who returned to competitive action earlier in the tournament with a doubles win alongside Hailey Baptiste, carried that momentum into her singles comeback. Despite going down an early break in both sets, she responded with resilience and tactical precision, outmanoeuvring Stearns with a combination of aggressive serving and seasoned baseline control.
Speaking after the match, the seven-time Grand Slam champion admitted she was still adjusting to the rhythm of high-level singles competition after such a long absence. She described the challenge of striking the right balance between intensity and restraint, acknowledging that her instincts were still catching up after time away from regular play.
Although Williams has yet to confirm whether she will continue through the North American hard court season, there is growing expectation she may seek wild card entries into the WTA 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati.
Williams’ next opponent will be Poland’s Magdalena Frech, the tournament’s fifth seed, setting up a compelling second-round encounter. Her continued presence in the tournament adds star power and intrigue to a field already packed with emerging talents and established names.
Despite her age and the demands of returning to tour-level tennis, Williams hinted that her competitive drive remains strong. She did not rule out the idea of extending her comeback further, leaving fans and analysts wondering how much more the American icon might have left to give.
“This was a big win,” she said after the match. “It’s never easy, and I know I’ll have to fight for every point. But I’m ready for that.”
Williams’ victory offers a timely reminder of her enduring legacy and sends a clear message that, even at 45, she still has the fire—and the game—to compete on tennis’s biggest stages.
