Venus Williams makes winning return to tennis aged 45
The all-American pair defeated compatriot Clervie Ngounoue and the retiring Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-1 in the round of 16 for Williams' first victory on the WTA Tour since August 2023, when she defeated Veronika Kudermetova in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open.
Williams, 45, gave her signature twirl after the match as she took in the adulation of the capacity crowd.
'It's just nice to be able to play,' Williams said after the match, per the Associated Press.
'Where I am at this year is so much different where I was at last year. It's night and day, being able to be here and prepare for the tournament as opposed to preparing for surgery a year ago.'
Williams told NBC earlier this month that she had undergone surgery to remove fibroids from her uterus, a condition she said had affected her career and life for years.
'At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter if your health is not there,' she added. 'So, it definitely put it in perspective for me and maybe made it easier to make the decision to maybe come back out here and maybe play even freer.'
It was the first time Williams had stepped onto the court at all for an official match since an opening-round defeat to Diana Shnaider at the Miami Open in March 2024. Her last doubles match was almost three years ago.
Williams, who is currently without a ranking in singles or doubles, has won seven grand slam singles titles and 14 in doubles alongside youngster sister Serena, as well as two mixed doubles titles in 1998.
After the win, Williams joked that her and Baptiste should have partnered up much sooner.
'I think, from the first point, I could see that we were going to be a good team,' she said. 'We just should have started playing earlier, years ago, right? I think Serena was just in the way.'
Williams, who accepted wild cards to compete in the singles and doubles, will make her return in the singles competition when she faces American Peyton Stearns in the opening round on Tuesday.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lottie Woad keeps 2-shot lead in Scotland and closes in on victory in pro debut on LPGA Tour
IRVINE, Scotland (AP) — Lottie Woad had four birdies in a six-hole stretch around the turn and posted a 5-under 67 on Saturday to maintain her two-shot lead in the Women's Scottish Open as she closes in on victory in her professional debut. Woad has such control of her game at Dundonald Links that she went 33 consecutive holes without a bogey until dropping a shot on the 15th. Her lead was down to one shot, but the 21-year-old from England responded with a short wedge she played perfectly on the 17th, leaving her an 8-foot birdie putt she converted. A closing par put her at 17-under 199. Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark, who caught Woad early with an eagle on the par-5 third hole, fell behind after Woad's birdie streak. But the Dane rallied with three straight birdies and a couple of par saves for a 67. She was two shots behind, along with Sei Young Kim (66), who made a long eagle putt on the 14th and got up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 closing hole to get within two shots. Nelly Korda played bogey-free, but the American managed only two birdies on another relatively calm day by Scottish standards. Her 70 left her five shots behind Woad, who already has had a golden summer in Europe. Woad, who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2024 and rose to No. 1 in the women's amateur ranking that year, won the Irish Women's Open three weeks ago on the Ladies European Tour. Then she missed the playoff by one shot in the Evian Championship. But her tie for third in the LPGA major earned her a tour card, and she decided to skip her senior year at Florida State and turn pro. And now she has a chance to win in her debut. 'That's the aim, to shoot as low as possible and keep giving myself chances,' Woad said. 'If someone shoots lights out, fair enough. I'm excited for the opportunity. I've got the experience and I'll try to use that.' Kim has 12 titles on the LPGA, including the Women's PGA Championship in 2020 at Aronimink, though she is coming up on five years since her last win. She will be in final group Sunday with Woad and Madsen. Korda, meanwhile, has a lot of ground to make up if she wants to end her surprising drought. She won seven times last season on the LPGA and still has yet to win this year. 'Wasn't hitting it probably as good as I was the first two days,' Korda said. 'I made some really good par saves and just didn't really capitalize on some of my good shots. But that's golf. That's OK. I still have tomorrow.' ___


Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Rivals India and Pakistan in same group at Asia Cup T20 cricket tournament
Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — Rivals India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group at the upcoming men's Asia Cup T20 cricket tournament in the United Arab Emirates. India is the official Asia Cup host but the tournament is being held at a neutral venue for India and Pakistan. The marquee group game between the two countries is on Sept. 14. The tournament will take place from Sept. 9-28, a top official of the Asian Cricket Council said Saturday. 'I am delighted to confirm the dates,' ACC president Mohsin Naqvi wrote on X. 'We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket!' India and Pakistan are in Group A with Oman and UAE. Group B comprises Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Hong Kong. The top two from each group will qualify for the Super 4 stage where all four teams compete against each other before the top two go through to the final. Pakistan and defending champion India are favorites to qualify from Group A, and that could potentially see three matches between the two if they qualify for the final. Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, led an ACC annual general meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday. ___ AP cricket: in this topic

NBC Sports
2 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Rhys McClenaghan, Olympic pommel horse gold medalist, to miss gymnastics worlds
Olympic pommel horse gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan will miss the World Gymnastics Championships in October after undergoing right shoulder surgery. 'I'm disappointed to miss this year's World Championships, but my priority is to maintain my place as the best in the world on pommel horse,' he said, according to a representative. 'My goal is not only to retain my Olympic title in LA 2028 but to continue striving for gold in every major competition. This surgery was necessary to ensure I can perform at the highest level for years to come. Setbacks are part of elite sport, but my mindset is about turning challenges — as I have done before — into opportunities to raise my performance.' McClenaghan, 26, became the first gymnast to win an Olympic medal for Ireland when he took pommel horse gold in Paris. He's also the lone artistic gymnast to win a world championships medal for Ireland, taking pommel horse bronze in 2019 and gold at the last two editions in 2022 and 2023. McClenaghan is from Northern Ireland and represents Ireland at the Olympics and worlds. Northern Ireland does not compete separately at those events, so athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to compete for Ireland or Great Britain. He previously underwent left shoulder surgery in November 2018 after a labral tear. The last gymnast other than McClenaghan to win a global pommel horse title was American Stephen Nedoroscik at the 2021 Worlds. Nedoroscik also took bronze at the Paris Games. Nick Zaccardi, behind McClenaghan and Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan.