'Back Again': Venus Williams Set For Peyton Stearns Challenge On DC Open Return
Williams is scheduled to take on compatriot Stearns in the first-round single clash, and will also feature in the doubles section alongside partner Hailey Baptiste.
The legendary Venus Williams is set to make her first competitive appearance in 16 months as the former World No.1 is slated to make her presence felt at the DC Open.
Williams is scheduled to take on compatriot Peyton Stearns in the first-round single clash at the event in Washington, and will also feature in the doubles section alongside partner Hailey Baptiste.
The 45-year-old Williams, who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, last contested a draw at Miami in March of 2024.
The North American summer hard-court season has officially begun with the release of the main draw for the WTA 500 DC Open on Saturday.
Twenty-eight women will compete for this year's title, including five Grand Slam singles champions. The top four seeds receive first-round byes.
World No. 4 Jessica Pegula leads the field as the No. 1 seed. Pegula won her first career WTA singles title in Washington six years ago in 2019.
An all-American first-round match between Hailey Baptiste and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin is featured in the other side of this quarter. No. 6 seed Kenin won their only previous meeting at the 2021 Roland Garros.
Venus Williams is in the second quarter, which features No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion. After her first-round bye, she will face either rising Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko or Anastasia Potapova.
Clara Tauson of Denmark is the No. 4 seed and has received a first-round bye in the fourth quarter. Tauson is enjoying her first week as a Top 20 player following her second-week run at Wimbledon.
At the other end of this quarter, former Top 10 player Danielle Collins of the United States will take on No. 8 seed Magda Linette of Poland in the first round. Collins leads their head-to-head 1-0, with a win in 2018.
Another American, Emma Navarro, anchors the draw as the No. 2 seed in the last quarter. After her first-round bye, she will meet either 2023 Washington finalist Maria Sakkari or Katie Boulter.
This quarter also features two major champions. First, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu meets No. 7 seed Marta Kostyuk in the opening round. Kostyuk leads their head-to-head 2-1, including a win on clay in Madrid this year.
Next, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka faces Yulia Putintseva in her opener. Osaka and Putintseva have a tied 3-3 head-to-head record overall, but Osaka has won their last three matches, including two meetings last year.
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