Venus Williams upsets world No. 35 in first singles match in 16 months, makes WTA history at 45 years old
The seven-time Grand Slam champion made her return to tennis after a 16-month layoff this week with entries into both the women's singles and doubles draw at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. She began each campaign with a win.
Playing alongside Hailey Baptiste, who is nearly half her age at 23 years old, Williams beat Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and American teenager Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1 in the first round on Monday. Then on Tuesday, she stunned former NCAA champion Peyton Stearns, who is ranked 35th in the world, in a 6-3, 6-4 singles upset.
Her last WTA-sanctioned singles win had been nearly two years ago at the 2023 Cincinnati Open.
It was the first time Williams notched a win in both women's singles and doubles since 2016 Wimbledon, where she won doubles for her final Grand Slam title. She also became the oldest woman since 2004 to win a tour-level match.
Williams' career had previously been in a state of limbo. She was not officially retired, even though her younger sister Serena retired in 2022, but she was also listed as inactive by the WTA. She was spending that time dealing with some health issues, and now feels much better, via AFP:
"It's just nice to be able to play. 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 will face stiffer challenges in both of her next matches in D.C., with No. 5 seed Magadelena French waiting for her in the singles round of 16 and No. 2 seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai in the doubles quarterfinals.
Looking ahead, Williams has entered herself into the mixed doubles draw at the US Open alongside Reilly Opelka.
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