A historic win by 45-year-old Venus Williams resonates and shows there are no limits for excellence
That she's 45, for one thing. Only one woman, Martina Navratilova, ever has won a tour-level singles match while older; her last victory came at 47 in 2004.
That
Williams hadn't entered a tournament
anywhere in 16 months.
That she needed surgery for uterine fibroids.
And when asked Tuesday night after beating her 23-year-old opponent,
Peyton Stearns
, 6-3, 6-4 at the DC Open what message others might take away from that performance and that result, Williams was quick to provide an answer.
'There are no limits for excellence. It's all about what's in your head and how much you're able to put into it. If you put in the work mentally, physically, and emotionally, then you can have the result,' she said. 'It doesn't matter how many times you fall down. Doesn't matter how many times you get sick or get hurt or whatever it is. If you continue to believe and put in the work, there is an opportunity, there is space, for you.'
Williams has been winning at tennis for decades. Her pro debut came when she was 14. Her first
Grand Slam title
came at Wimbledon in 2000, less than a month after her 20th birthday.
She accumulated four major singles trophies before Stearns was born and eventually wound up with seven, five at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open, plus another 14 in women's doubles — all with her sister Serena — and two in mixed doubles.
'I have so much respect for her to come back here and play, win or lose. That takes a lot of guts to step back onto court, especially with what she's done for the sport,' said Stearns, who is ranked 35th and won NCAA singles and team titles at the University of Texas. 'You have a lot behind you. You have accomplished a lot. And there is a lot of pressure on her and to kind of upkeep that at this age. So massive credit to her for that.'
There were challenges along the way for Williams, none more public than the diagnosis in 2011 of Sjögren's syndrome, an energy-sapping auto-immune disease that can cause joint pain.
More recent was the pain from fibroids — noncancerous growths — and shortly before the DC Open, Williams said: 'Where I am at this year is so much different (from) 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.'
As thrilled as the spectators — 'Who I love, and they love me,' Williams said — were to be able to watch, and pull, for her under the lights Tuesday, other players were rather excited about it, too.
'I commend her so much for being out here,' said Taylor Townsend.
Naomi Osaka's take: 'She's, like, the queen. There's a royal air around her.'
'She's one of the best athletes of all time,' Frances Tiafoe said. 'Her and her sister, they're not only great for the women's game, not only great for women's sports, but they are so iconic.'
Yet, there were some on social media who wondered whether it made sense for the tournament to award a wild-card entry to Williams instead of an up-and-coming player.
DC Open chairman Mark Ein said it took him about two seconds to respond 'Of course' when Williams' representative reached out in April to ask whether a spot in the field might be a possibility.
A reporter wanted to know Tuesday whether Williams took any satisfaction from proving doubters wrong.
'No, because I'm not here for anyone else except for me. And I also have nothing to prove. Zip. Zero. I'm here for me, because I want to be here,' she said. 'And proving anyone wrong or thinking about anyone has never gotten me a win and has never gotten me a loss.'
___
Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here:
https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich
. More AP tennis:
https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eater
an hour ago
- Eater
U.S. Open 2025: What to Eat During the Big Tennis Tournament in Queens
The U.S. Open is nearly here. Come late August and early September, tennis fans will gather at the sprawling USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, to cheer on their favorite tennis players, potentially like defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, as well as Venus Williams, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, and others. And since so many people will be flocking to Queens for all things tennis, Eater is here to help you figure out what and where you should eat and drink. Choose among plenty of big-name chefs operating pop-up restaurants, familiar New York City food businesses, and plentiful cocktails and wines. First-time restaurants to the U.S. Open dining grounds include New Jersey Italian Japanese restaurant Pasta Ramen and José Andrés's Manhattan Mexican restaurant Oyamel. Then there's returning favorites like fancy chicken nuggets and caviar-slinging Coqodaq, the socially minded Migrant Kitchen, and chefs Kwame Onwuachi and Masaharu Morimoto. (Alas, no churros so far, so you can't reenact that Challengers scene.) The U.S. Open takes place from Sunday, August 24, through Sunday, September 7. Before that, there's the U.S. Open Fan Week from Monday, August 18 to Saturday, August 23, which is open to the public for free, where people can watch the exciting Open Mixed Doubles Championship. Coco Gauff at the U.S. Open in 2024. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Where to Eat at the U.S. Open The best of the food options at the tennis tournament grounds. Oyamel at Dobel Tequila Club The tequila brand tagged José Andrés's new Mexican restaurant Oyamel to cook at its U.S. Open bar. Expect porky tacos with cochinita and chilorio, alongside cocktails. Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium, near the President's Entry The Montclair, New Jersey restaurant is making its U.S. Open debut with its wafu Italian specialties by chef Robbie Relice. The Japanese Italian menu will include the temomi shrimp scampi ramen, made with ponzu and garlic. Locations: The New York Post reports that the restaurant will pop up at random sites on the grounds during the tournament. Empanadas from the Migrant Kitchen. The Migrant Kitchen The NYC restaurant is focused on feeding New Yorkers, where a portion of its proceeds — including this tennis restaurant — funds its initiative. The menu highlights its blend of Middle Eastern and Latin American dishes. Expect chicken mole bowls; empanadas with chicken tinga or mushroom-spinach-cheese; a braised beef sandwich; falafel bowls; and hazelnut doughnuts. There are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Locations: Food Village; Louis Armstrong Stadium main concourse The CQDQ food stall in the Food Village will offer those nuggets alongside the new crispy chicken sandwiches and sides. The Arthur Ashe club level location won't have those sandwiches, but it'll have the fancier nuggets paired with caviar. Locations: Food Village; Arthur Ashe Stadium club level Aces This on-site restaurant operates only during the U.S. Open with a bunch of notable chefs on board. Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto will be offering sushi, naturally (his New Jersey restaurant will have just opened too by then). Caribbean chef superstar chef Kwame Onwuachi will be cooking as well. The two chefs will collaborate on the Laotian wagyu rib-eye skewers with maitake mushrooms and a pineapple chile jam. And then chef Ed Brown will serve seafood dishes too, such as jumbo lump crab cakes. There will be vegan and vegetarian options. Keep in mind it's only open to people who have Courtside Box and Luxury Suite tickets. Reservations are required. Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium, Club Level, Near Gate 4 Summers are for lobster rolls, especially from the Brooklyn seafood restaurant. In addition to the ones available in the Connecticut and Maine styles, there is also a lobster BLT, fish and chips, fish sandwiches, lobster fries, shrimp citrus salad, and more. Locations: Food Village, Louis Armstrong Stadium upper concourse The New York taqueria chain will serve up tacos, burritos, and bowls with fillings like carnitas, pollo asado, and vegetables, alongside loaded nachos, queso, and guacamole. Locations: Food Village; Grandstand Food Village A Neapolitan pie from San Matteo. San Matteo The Upper East Side pizzeria will be slinging its Neapolitan-style pies with toppings like the margherita-pepperoni and the prosciutto, plus the option to add fresh burrata. There are vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free options. Locations: Food Village; Grandstand Food Village; Arthur Ashe Stadium loge on the promenade Gates 25 and 36; and Louis Armstrong Stadium main and upper concourses Celebrity chef Josh Capon is bringing two outposts of his seafood restaurant within a private members club to the tennis grounds. Expect East and West coast oysters, Bay scallop ceviches, lobster rolls, shrimp cocktails, and crab cakes. There are gluten-free options. Locations: Between Court 7 and the Grandstand; Arthur Ashe Stadium club level at Gate 4 This outpost of the classic New York restaurant is the best for out-of-towners who don't have the bandwidth to explore outside of the U.S. Open grounds. There are hot pastrami sandwiches, hot dogs, and cheesecake. Location: Food Village The growing New York ice cream company will be offering up scoops of its frozen sweets in cones, cups, and milkshakes. It'll offer an exclusive flavor too — the honeycomb fudge slam, where the sweet cream ice cream is studded with honeycomb candies and fudge swirls. There are vegan and dairy-free options. Locations: Backyard x 17, Food Village, outside Louis Armstrong Stadium, the stadium's main concourse, Arthur Ashe Stadium loge on the promenade level's east and west sections U.S. Open attendees at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the rest of the dining options One of the men's singles matches at the U.S. Open in to Drink at the U.S. Open The Italian coffee brand will churn out many caffeinated options, from iced coffees to cappuccinos to cold brews to boozy espresso martinis. Location: Grandstand Food Village and Food Village Get spritzes and small plates from the apertivo brand's bars and carts. Food-wise, there are vegetarian and gluten-free options. Where to find it: Multiple places Draft beers from the Dutch brewery brand, including light and nonalcoholic versions. There's also the Heineken Red Star Patio Cafe with food and desserts. Locations: Multiple places U.S. Open attendees lounging outside the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the rest of the drinking options Baseline Cocktails (Court 11 and near Court 7) Dobel Tequila (multiple locations) Grey Goose Bars and Carts (the vodka brand is offering the Honey Deuce cocktail with a melon ball garnish, which is (the vodka brand is offering the Honey Deuce cocktail with a melon ball garnish, which is very Severance of them ; multiple locations) Moët & Chandon Bar (Champagne, wines, and mimosas; near Arthur Ashe Stadium and various Champagne carts throughout the grounds) Open Bar (cocktails, wines, spritzes, beers, wraps, sandwiches, snacks; multiple locations) Racquet Bar (cocktails and wines by the glass; terrace outside the Arthur Ashe Stadium) Terrace Bar (main level of Louis Armstrong) Wine Cart (outside Arthur Ashe Stadium) Where to Eat and Drink Nearby in Queens The borough is chock-full of amazing dining options. Where to Eat and Drink Elsewhere in New York City Hop on the subway and explore the rest of NYC. A sunset at the Arthur Ashe Stadium during the U.S. Open 2024. Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images Things to Know While Attending the U.S. Open The Queens tennis grounds include the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Louis Armstrong Stadium, and the Grandstand Stadium, as well as several courts. So, yes, wear comfortable shoes to walk around and get to and from the matches. Per the wonderful Queens summer sports tradition of baseball meets tennis, the New York Mets will be playing home games at the nearby Citi Field from Monday, August 25, through Sunday, August 31. Take the 7 train to witness the swarm of sports fans splitting off to either the stadium or the tennis grounds. It'll be hot — hydrate and wear sunscreen. And bring a light layer if it gets chillier in the evenings. No glass containers or outside booze. Metal and plastic water bottles are okay. People can bring in only one bag — no backpacks or coolers — that is 12 inches by 12 inches by 16 inches. Drawstring bags are okay. No on-site businesses will accept cash — there are loadable card machines on the grounds dubbed reverse ATMs. Eater NY All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
College tennis facing threats of cuts at same time many of its alums are starring in pro ranks
This should be an exhilarating moment for college tennis. Wimbledon featured a record 26 current or former college players in men's singles and nine more in the women's draw. TCU's Jack Pinnington Jones and San Diego's Oliver Tarvet, who reached the second round, played for their college teams just this spring. Ben Shelton, a 2022 NCAA singles champion at Florida, reached the quarterfinals. All of this is occurring as the threat of elimination faces numerous tennis programs. According to the International Tennis Association, which governs college tennis, schools dropping tennis since 2024 includes Central Arkansas (women), Eastern Illinois (men and women), Lindenwood (men), Louisiana-Monroe (women), Radford (men and women), St. Francis College (men and women), San Francisco (men and women), Seattle (men) and UTEP (women). Former San Francisco men's player Asaf Friedler noted the Dons hadn't even finished the 2024 season when the athletic director emailed about a meeting the following day, where they learned the program would be dropped in a matter of weeks. Friedler remembers players crying at practice later that day. He said a recruit had committed to San Francisco just a couple of days before the announcement, a sign that even coaches were caught off guard. 'We were all like in shock,' Friedler said. 'We didn't know what to say. We looked at each other and we were very confused.' On the line During the pandemic, nearly two dozen men's or women's tennis programs were eliminated. But the latest cuts come as colleges across the country deal with the hard choices and financial realities of the $2.8 billion House settlement. Revenue sharing tends to favor football and basketball, and there are roster caps. The calculations are different for each school. David Mullins, CEO of the ITA, says college tennis is a great pathway to the pros. 'Our position within the tennis industry has never been better,' Mullins said. 'But on the other side, we're dealing with all these things happening with the NCAA model. Probably the challenges that we're facing from the collegiate side domestically have never been greater.' Louisiana-Monroe athletic director John Hartwell noted schools opting into the settlement must sponsor at least 16 sports. Louisiana-Monroe had 17 sports before eliminating women's tennis. 'Probably a factor for some folks is the squad size, that probably has something to do with it,' Hartwell said. 'Facilities are a challenge, too. I think those are probably key components. But I also think a lot of these schools that have more than required 16 sports are analyzing everything cost-wise.' Cutting tennis saved Louisiana-Monroe about $250,000. Hartwell said the scholarship funds that went to tennis now will be directed toward the school's other women's teams. Roster size also leaves tennis vulnerable. Dropping a different sport with more team members leaves more athletes disappointed. 'When you're cutting a sport, it's not a fun position to be in,' Central Arkansas athletic director Matt Whiting said. 'You have to factor in numbers in those situations. (Tennis) certainly has a smaller roster.' Schools that eliminate tennis programs generally allow players to remain on scholarship throughout their time at the school. Many choose to transfer, searching for a new school while adjusting to a new country. Mullins estimates about 60% of the players on Division I teams generally come from outside the U.S. Alex Aldaz, who is from Spain and played for Eastern Illinois this year, said his team got the news after the season already had ended and many of them were already back in their home countries. 'Their faces were like they didn't know how to react,' Aldaz said. 'They were lost... sad and angry.' Aldaz is now at Mercer. Friedler, who is from Israel, played for Tulane this past season. Many of their former teammates at their original schools weren't as fortunate. Searching for solutions Many college tennis programs don't have facilities on campus, forcing them to rent local courts. Whiting said Central Arkansas had a facility on campus that required an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million in repairs. Hartwell said Louisiana-Monroe's tennis facility needed about $750,000 in improvements. Mullins said the U.S. Tennis Association has offered grants to colleges opening full-service tennis centers to foster the sport's growth in their communities. Those schools then can make money by renting out their courts when their teams aren't using them. South Carolina is the latest school to attempt this, hiring Dainyell Fox as the Carolina Tennis Center's operations manager within the past year. Fox has started organizing tennis lessons and classes while also exploring other potential revenue options. 'Our goal isn't going to necessarily put us completely in the black, but it reduces the financial footprint of men's and women's tennis,' South Carolina deputy athletic director Judy Van Horn said. The list of former Gamecocks includes Francisco Cerundolo, who is in the top 25 of the ATP rankings. Just as a growing number of former major-conference players succeed on the pro circuit, the struggle to survive is real for plenty of smaller programs. 'Our position is strengthened with each passing Grand Slam,' Mullins said. 'But on the other side, we have all these challenges here domestically that we're not able to control.' ___ AP tennis:
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
College tennis facing threats of cuts at same time many of its alums are starring in pro ranks
This should be an exhilarating moment for college tennis. Wimbledon featured a record 26 current or former college players in men's singles and nine more in the women's draw. TCU's Jack Pinnington Jones and San Diego's Oliver Tarvet, who reached the second round, played for their college teams just this spring. Ben Shelton, a 2022 NCAA singles champion at Florida, reached the quarterfinals. All of this is occurring as the threat of elimination faces numerous tennis programs. According to the International Tennis Association, which governs college tennis, schools dropping tennis since 2024 includes Central Arkansas (women), Eastern Illinois (men and women), Lindenwood (men), Louisiana-Monroe (women), Radford (men and women), St. Francis College (men and women), San Francisco (men and women), Seattle (men) and UTEP (women). Former San Francisco men's player Asaf Friedler noted the Dons hadn't even finished the 2024 season when the athletic director emailed about a meeting the following day, where they learned the program would be dropped in a matter of weeks. Friedler remembers players crying at practice later that day. He said a recruit had committed to San Francisco just a couple of days before the announcement, a sign that even coaches were caught off guard. 'We were all like in shock,' Friedler said. 'We didn't know what to say. We looked at each other and we were very confused.' On the line During the pandemic, nearly two dozen men's or women's tennis programs were eliminated. But the latest cuts come as colleges across the country deal with the hard choices and financial realities of the $2.8 billion House settlement. Revenue sharing tends to favor football and basketball, and there are roster caps. The calculations are different for each school. David Mullins, CEO of the ITA, says college tennis is a great pathway to the pros. 'Our position within the tennis industry has never been better,' Mullins said. 'But on the other side, we're dealing with all these things happening with the NCAA model. Probably the challenges that we're facing from the collegiate side domestically have never been greater.' Louisiana-Monroe athletic director John Hartwell noted schools opting into the settlement must sponsor at least 16 sports. Louisiana-Monroe had 17 sports before eliminating women's tennis. 'Probably a factor for some folks is the squad size, that probably has something to do with it,' Hartwell said. 'Facilities are a challenge, too. I think those are probably key components. But I also think a lot of these schools that have more than required 16 sports are analyzing everything cost-wise.' Cutting tennis saved Louisiana-Monroe about $250,000. Hartwell said the scholarship funds that went to tennis now will be directed toward the school's other women's teams. Roster size also leaves tennis vulnerable. Dropping a different sport with more team members leaves more athletes disappointed. 'When you're cutting a sport, it's not a fun position to be in,' Central Arkansas athletic director Matt Whiting said. 'You have to factor in numbers in those situations. (Tennis) certainly has a smaller roster.' Schools that eliminate tennis programs generally allow players to remain on scholarship throughout their time at the school. Many choose to transfer, searching for a new school while adjusting to a new country. Mullins estimates about 60% of the players on Division I teams generally come from outside the U.S. Alex Aldaz, who is from Spain and played for Eastern Illinois this year, said his team got the news after the season already had ended and many of them were already back in their home countries. 'Their faces were like they didn't know how to react,' Aldaz said. 'They were lost... sad and angry.' Aldaz is now at Mercer. Friedler, who is from Israel, played for Tulane this past season. Many of their former teammates at their original schools weren't as fortunate. Searching for solutions Many college tennis programs don't have facilities on campus, forcing them to rent local courts. Whiting said Central Arkansas had a facility on campus that required an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million in repairs. Hartwell said Louisiana-Monroe's tennis facility needed about $750,000 in improvements. Mullins said the U.S. Tennis Association has offered grants to colleges opening full-service tennis centers to foster the sport's growth in their communities. Those schools then can make money by renting out their courts when their teams aren't using them. South Carolina is the latest school to attempt this, hiring Dainyell Fox as the Carolina Tennis Center's operations manager within the past year. Fox has started organizing tennis lessons and classes while also exploring other potential revenue options. 'Our goal isn't going to necessarily put us completely in the black, but it reduces the financial footprint of men's and women's tennis,' South Carolina deputy athletic director Judy Van Horn said. The list of former Gamecocks includes Francisco Cerundolo, who is in the top 25 of the ATP rankings. Just as a growing number of former major-conference players succeed on the pro circuit, the struggle to survive is real for plenty of smaller programs. 'Our position is strengthened with each passing Grand Slam,' Mullins said. 'But on the other side, we have all these challenges here domestically that we're not able to control.' ___ AP tennis:
