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Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: 45-year-old Venus Williams becomes oldest woman since Navratilova to win singles match - Omni sports
Venus Williams wanted to send a message — to herself and to others — about coming back from a long layoff, about competing in a sport at age 45, about never giving up. Yes, there was something special about just being back on a tennis court Tuesday night. There also was this: She really, really wanted to win. And Williams did just that, becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis, delivering some of her familiar big serves and groundstrokes at age 45 while beating Peyton Stearns — 22 years her junior — by a 6-3, 6-4 score at the DC Open. 'Each week that I was training, I was, like, 'Oh, my God, I don't know if I'm good enough yet.' And then there would be weeks where I would leap forward. And there would be two weeks where I was, like, 'Oh, God, it's not happening.' Even the week leading up, (I thought), 'Oh, my gosh, I need to improve so much more.' So it's all a head game,' Williams said after her first singles match in more than a year and first singles victory in nearly two. Navratilova is the only woman older than Williams to win a singles match The only older woman to win a tour-level singles match was Martina Navratilova, whose last triumph came at 47 in 2004. The former No. 1-ranked Williams had not played singles in an official match since March 2024 in Miami, missing time while having surgery to remove uterine fibroids. She hadn't won in singles since August 2023 in Cincinnati. Until this week, she was listed by the WTA Tour as 'inactive.' 'I'm just constantly praying for good health, so that way I could have an opportunity to play with good health,' Williams said. 'A lot of this for me is being able to come back and try to play at a level (and) to play healthy.' Venus Williams won four Grand Slam titles before Peyton Stearns was born Backed by a crowd that clearly was there to see, and support, her at the hard-court tournament in the nation's capital, Williams showed glimpses of the talent she possesses and the skills she displayed while earning all of her Grand Slam titles: seven in singles, 14 in women's doubles — all alongside younger sister Serena — and two in mixed doubles. 'I wanted to play a good match,' Williams told the fans, then added a phrase that drew appreciative roars: 'and win the match.' In Tuesday's second game, Williams smacked a return winner to get things started, then delivered a couple of other big responses to break Stearns, a 23-year-old who won singles and team NCAA titles at the University of Texas and is currently ranked 35th. In the next game, Williams sprinted forward to reach a drop shot and replied with a forehand winner. The first chorus of cheers arrived when Williams walked out into the main stadium at the DC Open, a 7,000-seat arena that's more than twice as large as where she was for her doubles victory a day earlier. Another came when she strode from the sideline to the center of the court for the coin toss. The noise reached a crescendo when Williams began hitting aces — at 110 mph and faster — the way she used to. Keep in mind: Williams won four Grand Slam trophies before Stearns was born. Venus Williams hit big serves and groundstrokes just like she always did 'She played some ball tonight,' Stearns said. 'She was moving really well, which I wasn't expecting too much, honestly. Her serves were just on fire.' There also were moments where Williams — whose fiance was in the stands — looked as if it had been just as long as it actually has since she competed, including in the opening game, when she got broken at love this way: forehand wide, forehand into the net, forehand long, backhand long. At the end, it took Williams a bit of extra effort to close things out. She kept holding match points and kept failing to convert them. But eventually, on her sixth chance, Williams powered in a 112 mph serve that Stearns returned into the net. That was it: Williams smiled wide as can be, raised a fist and jogged to the net to shake hands, then performed her customary post-win pirouette-and-wave. 'It's not easy. It won't be easy. It's not easy for anyone out here,' said Williams, who next faces No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech, who's 27. 'So, I know I'll have to fight for every match. But I'm up for that.' (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Vancouver Sun
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Venus Williams, 45, oldest woman since Navratilova to win singles match
WASHINGTON — Venus Williams wanted to send a message — to herself and to others — about coming back from a long layoff, about competing in a sport at age 45, about never giving up. Yes, there was something special about just being back on a tennis court Tuesday night. There also was this: She really, really wanted to win. And Williams did just that, becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis, delivering some of her familiar big serves and groundstrokes at age 45 while beating Peyton Stearns — 22 years her junior — by a 6-3, 6-4 score at the DC Open. 'Each week that I was training, I was, like, 'Oh, my God, I don't know if I'm good enough yet.' And then there would be weeks where I would leap forward. And there would be two weeks where I was, like, 'Oh, God, it's not happening.' Even the week leading up, (I thought), 'Oh, my gosh, I need to improve so much more.' So it's all a head game,' Williams said after her first singles match in more than a year and first singles victory in nearly two. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Navratilova is the only woman older than Williams to win a singles match The only older woman to win a tour-level singles match was Martina Navratilova, whose last triumph came at 47 in 2004. The former No. 1-ranked Williams had not played singles in an official match since March 2024 in Miami, missing time while having surgery to remove uterine fibroids. She hadn't won in singles since August 2023 in Cincinnati. Until this week, she was listed by the WTA Tour as 'inactive.' 'I'm just constantly praying for good health, so that way I could have an opportunity to play with good health,' Williams said. 'A lot of this for me is being able to come back and try to play at a level (and) to play healthy.' Venus Williams won four Grand Slam titles before Peyton Stearns was born Backed by a crowd that clearly was there to see, and support, her at the hard-court tournament in the nation's capital, Williams showed glimpses of the talent she possesses and the skills she displayed while earning all of her Grand Slam titles: seven in singles, 14 in women's doubles — all alongside younger sister Serena _ and two in mixed doubles. 'I wanted to play a good match,' Williams told the fans, then added a phrase that drew appreciative roars: 'and win the match.' In Tuesday's second game, Williams smacked a return winner to get things started, then delivered a couple of other big responses to break Stearns, a 23-year-old who won singles and team NCAA titles at the University of Texas and is currently ranked 35th. In the next game, Williams sprinted forward to reach a drop shot and replied with a forehand winner. The first chorus of cheers arrived when Williams walked out into the main stadium at the DC Open, a 7,000-seat arena that's more than twice as large as where she was for her doubles victory a day earlier. Another came when she strode from the sideline to the center of the court for the coin toss. The noise reached a crescendo when Williams began hitting aces — at 110 mph and faster — the way she used to. Keep in mind: Williams won four Grand Slam trophies before Stearns was born. Venus Williams hit big serves and groundstrokes just like she always did 'She played some ball tonight,' Stearns said. 'She was moving really well, which I wasn't expecting too much, honestly. Her serves were just on fire.' There also were moments where Williams — whose fiance was in the stands — looked as if it had been just as long as it actually has since she competed, including in the opening game, when she got broken at love this way: forehand wide, forehand into the net, forehand long, backhand long. At the end, it took Williams a bit of extra effort to close things out. She kept holding match points and kept failing to convert them. But eventually, on her sixth chance, Williams powered in a 112 mph serve that Stearns returned into the net. That was it: Williams smiled wide as can be, raised a fist and jogged to the net to shake hands, then performed her customary post-win pirouette-and-wave. 'It's not easy. It won't be easy. It's not easy for anyone out here,' said Williams, who next faces No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech, who's 27. 'So I know I'll have to fight for every match. But I'm up for that.'
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
45-year-old Venus Williams becomes the oldest woman to win a singles match
Venus Williams wanted to send a message - to herself and to others - about coming back from a long layoff, about competing in a sport at age 45, about never giving up. Yes, there was something special about just being back on a tennis court Tuesday night. There also was this: She really, really wanted to win. And Williams did just that, becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis, delivering some of her familiar big serves and groundstrokes at age 45 while beating Peyton Stearns - 22 years her junior - by a 6-3, 6-4 score at the DC Open. "Each week that I was training, I was, like, 'Oh, my God, I don't know if I'm good enough yet.' And then there would be weeks where I would leap forward. And there would be two weeks where I was, like, 'Oh, God, it's not happening.' Even the week leading up, (I thought), 'Oh, my gosh, I need to improve so much more.' So it's all a head game,' Williams said after her first singles match in more than a year and first singles victory in nearly two. The only older woman to win a tour-level singles match was Martina Navratilova, whose last triumph came at 47 in 2004. Peyton Stearns celebrates after a point against Venus Williams. The former No. 1-ranked Williams had not played singles in an official match since March 2024 in Miami, missing time while having surgery to remove uterine fibroids. She hadn't won in singles since August 2023 in Cincinnati. Until this week, she was listed by the WTA Tour as "inactive.' "I'm just constantly praying for good health, so that way I could have an opportunity to play with good health,' Williams said. "A lot of this for me is being able to come back and try to play at a level (and) to play healthy.' Backed by a crowd that clearly was there to see, and support, her at the hard-court tournament in the nation's capital, Williams showed glimpses of the talent she possesses and the skills she displayed while earning all of her Grand Slam titles: seven in singles, 14 in women's doubles - all alongside younger sister Serena - and two in mixed doubles. "I wanted to play a good match,' Williams told the fans, then added a phrase that drew appreciative roars: "and win the match.' In Tuesday's second game, Williams smacked a return winner to get things started, then delivered a couple of other big responses to break Stearns, a 23-year-old who won singles and team NCAA titles at the University of Texas and is currently ranked 35th. In the next game, Williams sprinted forward to reach a drop shot and replied with a forehand winner. The first chorus of cheers arrived when Williams walked out into the main stadium at the DC Open, a 7,000-seat arena that's more than twice as large as where she was for her doubles victory a day earlier. Another came when she strode from the sideline to the center of the court for the coin toss. The noise reached a crescendo when Williams began hitting aces - at 110 mph and faster - the way she used to. Keep in mind: Williams won four Grand Slam trophies before Stearns was born. Venus Williams (right) shakes hands with Peyton Stearns after winning a women's single match. Photos: AFP "She played some ball tonight,' Stearns said. "She was moving really well, which I wasn't expecting too much, honestly. Her serves were just on fire.' There also were moments where Williams - whose fiance was in the stands - looked as if it had been just as long as it actually has since she competed, including in the opening game, when she got broken at love this way: forehand wide, forehand into the net, forehand long, backhand long. At the end, it took Williams a bit of extra effort to close things out. She kept holding match points and kept failing to convert them. But eventually, on her sixth chance, Williams powered in a 112 mph serve that Stearns returned into the net. That was it: Williams smiled wide as can be, raised a fist and jogged to the net to shake hands, then performed her customary post-win pirouette-and-wave. "It's not easy. It won't be easy. It's not easy for anyone out here,' said Williams, who next faces No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech, who's 27. "So I know I'll have to fight for every match. But I'm up for that.' Associated Press
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Venus rises: 45-year-old Venus Williams stuns at Citi Open after year-long hiatus
Oh, to be Venus Williams this week. To be 45 and beating women about half her age in both singles and doubles. To be 30 years into her professional tennis career and knocking off a solid up-and-comer and the 2022 NCAA singles champion in Peyton Stearns, the world No. 35. Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, walked onto the stadium court at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. as the sun was setting but played as though it was rising on her career. She had not played a WTA Tour match since March of 2024. She had not won one since 2023. The WTA Tour website doesn't even list her as having a ranking. Yet there she was thumping forehands and backhands across the court on the way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Stearns, who was shaky from the start against Williams, an icon not just of tennis, not just of women's sports, but of all sports. In some ways, Stearns was an ideal opponent for Williams: a big hitter prone to erratic play on big stages. And while the Citi Open in Washington's Rock Creek Park might not seem like a big stage, once Williams asked for and received a wild card entry into the tournament — and Stearns drew her in the first round — it became the sport's most-talked-about match during a relatively quiet week on the tour as the North American hard-court swing gets underway. On Monday, Williams partnered with Hailey Baptiste in a straight-sets doubles win. She hit the ball cleanly and covered her half of the court efficiently. Her partnership with Baptiste, a rising Black American 23-year-old, made for a good story. Her solid play generated a buzz. But could she do it in singles? Indeed she could. Williams, once an endorsement queen, wore a logo-free black dress and white visor and played uncomplicated tennis, smacking nine aces and attacking at the first strike. She and Stearns traded breaks of serve to start. But then Williams mostly took control, moving Stearns around enough to induce errors and pushing her back into the court. Only four rallies lasted beyond nine shots. Williams set up a set point with a big serve, then hit a kicker that Stearns could not get back to seal the first set at 6-3. Soon, she was up a break in the second set. She stumbled briefly, rattled by a foot fault call, and lost three consecutive games. In a flash Stearns was on the front foot and leading 3-1. But then Williams once more started stepping onto the court and taking the initiative, winning four straight games as the crowd exploded to rally behind her. Serving at 3-5, Stearns saved four match points, during a game that lasted more than 12 minutes, playing some of her best tennis with her back against the wall. But Williams buckled down and climbed out of a 0-30 hole in the next game. An ace got her back even. A big serve that Stearns returned long got her yet another match point that she frittered away with a double fault. Three points later, she had another shot to seal it. One more big serve that Stearns sent into the net and the night was hers. The arms rose in the air at her 819th career victory, and soon she began spinning in the center of the court. 'Venus, Venus, Venus,' Rennae Stubbs said to her during the on-court interview. 'We were living and dying together,' she said to the crowd. Williams isn't the oldest woman to win a WTA Tour singles match. Martina Navratilova won at 47 in 2004. Still, beating No. 35 at 45 — not bad. 'It's just about putting it all together,' she said. 'I wanted to play a good match and win the match.' Williams said her fiance, Italian film star Andrea Preti, encouraged her to try to come back. It was hard but worth it. She next faces Magdalena Fręch of Poland. (Photo: Geoff Burke / Imagn Images) This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Tennis, Women's Tennis 2025 The Athletic Media Company
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Venus Williams, 45, confirms engagement to actor partner, 37, as she rolls back years to win first match in TWO YEARS
VENUS WILLIAMS rolled back the years last night to win for the first time since August 2023. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, 45, surprisingly accepted a wildcard to return in Washington DC this week. Advertisement 7 Venus Williams celebrates her first win since 2023 Credit: Getty 7 Williams, 45, rolled back the years in Washington DC Credit: Alamy 7 Williams defeated Peyton Stearns... 22 years her junior Credit: Getty The WTA Tour veteran looked like she'd never been away as she defeated world No35 Peyton Stearns, 22 years her junior, 6-3 6-4 in front of a raucous night session crowd. In doing so, Williams became the second-oldest woman to ever win a singles match at tour level, only behind Martina Navratilova, who did so at 47-years-old. The American legend won her first tour-level match 31 years ago, aged just 14. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL After her historic triumph, Williams revealed on court that she is engaged to actor partner Andrea Preti. The tennis icon said: "My fiance is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing. "There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? "You guys don't know how much work goes into this, like it's 9 to 5 except you're running the whole time. Advertisement Most read in Tennis BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 7 Williams is engaged to Andrea Preti Credit: Getty 7 Preti, 37, was in attendance at the match last night Credit: Getty "Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day. So he encouraged me to get through this and it's wonderful to be here. He's never seen me play." Advertisement Williams is also playing the doubles event in DC this week. Tennis star Venus Williams talks about her struggles with chronic illness and Sjogren's syndrome Partnering Hailey Baptiste, Williams beat Speaking about partnering Baptiste, Williams poked fun at her retired sister Serena. She said: "I think from the first point I could see that we were going to be a good team. Advertisement "We just should have started playing earlier, years ago, right? I think Serena was just in the way." Williams and Baptiste will be back in action later today, as they take on No2 seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai in the quarter-finals. The veteran will then return again for the singles tomorrow, taking on Poland's Magdalena Frech. Williams has entered the revamped US Open mixed doubles event, which also featured Advertisement The two-time US Open champion could also look for a singles wildcard at Flushing Meadows. 7 Williams is also playing doubles this week alongside Hailey Baptiste Credit: Getty 7 The American received a hero's reception from her home crowd Credit: Getty
