Venus Williams proved that age is just a number as she marked her first appearance on the WTA Tour in 16 months with a win at the Mubadala Citi DC Open.
Before her first-round match at the WTA 500 event in Washington DC, the former world No 1’s last professional match was at the Miami Open in March 2024, when she lost her opener against Diana Shnaider. Meanwhile, you had to go back to August 2023 for her last victory as on that occasion she defeated Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati Open.
But the seven-time Grand Slam winner returned to winning ways 34 days after celebrating her 45th birthday as she defeated fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4.
Williams – who has won 49 WTA Tour singles titles during her illustrious career – is the second-oldest player since 1990 to win a WTA match with only Martina Navratilova ahead of her as she was 47 when she defeated Catalina Castano at Wimbledon in 2004.
“I think I just attacked the whole time. It’s just trying to find the right balance between going to hard and not enough,” Williams said after the match.
“It’s the same because this is what I do, but at the same time, at the time it was imperative for me to do it. Now I don’t have to do this, but I have the same fire and the same want to win.
“In some ways, I’m still getting back into that. When you do it everyday, everything is natural. Not as natural feeling now, but I hope I can get back to that.”
The tennis great added: “There are no limits for excellence. It’s all about what’s in your head and how much you’re able to put into it. If you put in the work mentally, physically, and emotionally, then you can have the result.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you fall down. Doesn’t matter how many times you get sick or get hurt or whatever it is. If you continue to believe and put in the work, there is an opportunity, there is space for you.”
After playing only two matches in 2024, Williams started the 2025 season at No 977 before falling out of the WTA Rankings on March 31 due to her in activity as she had zero points.
But she earned 60 points for her first-round win in Washington and will surge an incredible 9356 places to No 643.
A tougher assignment awaits the wildcard in the second round as she will face fifth seed Magdalena Frech, but another win will see her jump into the top 500.
“I think it was a big win for me today. Like I said, it’s not easy. It won’t be easy. It’s not easy for anyone out here,” Williams said.
“So I know I’ll have to fight for every match, but I’m up for that.”
