Venus Williams made a thunderous return to professional tennis on Tuesday night, proving age is just a number—and champions never stop fighting. At 45 years old, Williams secured a commanding 6-3, 6-4 win over 23-year-old Peyton Stearns at the DC Open, marking her first singles victory in nearly two years.
With her powerful serve clocking in at 112 mph and a court presence that reminded fans of her seven Grand Slam titles, Williams became the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match, behind only Martina Navratilova.
“This was about more than just playing—it was about winning,” Williams said, reflecting on her journey back after undergoing surgery for uterine fibroids and being listed as “inactive” by the WTA.
The crowd roared as she delivered blistering returns and hustled for drop shots, each moment echoing her greatness. Even when match points slipped through her fingers, Williams didn’t flinch. On her sixth try, she sealed the deal with a trademark ace that brought the house down.
“I wanted to play a good match,” she told the fans, beaming. “And win the match.”
Mission accomplished. Venus is back—and she’s not done yet.
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