Nationwide — Venus Williams made historical past at 45 years outdated by successful a singles match on the DC Open, turning into the oldest lady since Martina Navratilova to take action. She beat Peyton Stearns in straight units, marking her first singles win in almost two years.
Williams, as soon as the world No. 1, returned to singles competitors after surgical procedure earlier this yr. In line with 11Alive, she hadn’t performed a singles match since March 2024 and was listed as inactive by the WTA till this week. Regardless of the lengthy break, Venus confirmed flashes of her traditional energy, hitting sturdy serves and strong groundstrokes.
The gang on the DC Open cheered loudly as Williams stepped onto the court docket. Early within the match, she broke Stearns’ serve with sharp returns and confirmed spectacular court docket protection. Though she had some shaky moments, together with a tough begin the place she misplaced her serve, Venus steadily took management and gained 6-3, 6-4.
Closing the match took a number of tries as Williams missed a number of match factors. However lastly, she landed a 112 mph ace that sealed the victory. Afterward, she smiled and celebrated together with her signature post-win spin and wave.
Subsequent, Venus will face Magdalena Frech, the event’s No. 5 seed. In the meantime, different notable matches noticed Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka advancing, whereas prime males’s seeds confronted some early exits.