
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.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
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


Toronto Star
16 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Citron scores 28 and Iriafen has 22, both career bests, to lift Mystics past Sky 103-86
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sonia Citron scored 28 points and Kiki Iriafen added 22, career highs for both, and the Washington Mystics handed the Chicago Sky their sixth straight loss with a 103-86 victory on Tuesday night. Brittney Sykes supported the two All-Star rookies with 18 points for the Mystics (13-13) and the reserves outscored their counterparts 21-7. Iriafen also had 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double.


Winnipeg Free Press
16 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
A rare first for Ohtani: Dodgers superstar strikes out in his first 4 plate appearances
CINCINNATI (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani had another first in his MLB career. Ohtani struck out in his first four plate appearances Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds, the first time he has done that in his eight seasons in the majors. It is the sixth time the Japanese superstar and reigning NL MVP has struck out four times in a game. It is the second time this season, with the other coming against San Diego on June 17. Against the Seattle Mariners on July 17, 2021, while playing for the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani popped up to the shortstop in his first at-bat and then struck out in his next four times at the plate. Cincinnati's Nick Lodolo became the 13th pitcher to strike out Ohtani three times in a game. The Reds left-hander got Ohtani to chase a curveball out of the strike zone in the first and fifth innings, and got him looking on a 94.6 mph fastball in the third. Graham Ashcraft then whiffed Ohtani on an inside slider in the seventh. Ohtani was one strike away from his first five strikeout game before he flew out to right field on a 2-2 count in the ninth inning of a 4-4 game. Ohtani came into the game on a nine-game hitting streak along with leading the majors with 100 runs scored. He is atop the NL in slugging (.620), total bases (254), OPS (1.001) and 38 home runs. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP MLB:


Winnipeg Free Press
16 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Braves All-Star OF Ronald Acuña Jr. leaves game in sixth inning
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from the game against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night with tightness in his right Achilles tendon after chasing down a ball in right field in the sixth inning. Acuña walked off the field before a trainer followed him into the locker room. Acuña has 15 home runs this season, 26 RBIs and is batting .309. He had two homers on Monday night and went 2 for 4. The five-time All-Star and former Most Valuable Player missed most of last season with a left torn ACL. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP MLB: