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Venus Williams rolls back the years with Washington win over Stearns
Venus Williams became the oldest winner of a WTA Tour match in over two decades after she beat Peyton Stearns 6-3 6-4 in Washington D.C.
Venus Williams marked her comeback to the WTA Tour in sensational style on Tuesday, as she stunned Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open.
Williams, 45, became the oldest player to win a WTA Tour-level match since Martina Navratilova in 2004 as she triumphed 6-3 6-4 over fellow American Stearns.
Stearns is 22 years Williams' junior, but could not keep pace with the seven-time grand slam champion, who stormed to victory in 97 minutes, despite starting the match by dropping serve.
"You know, it's the first step, and the first match is always extremely difficult," Williams said after clinching her first singles win in two years.
"It's hard to describe how difficult it is to play a first match after so much time off.
"So going into the match, I know I have the ability to win, but it's all about actually winning. This is the best result, to play a good match and win. I'm here with my friends, family, people I love, and the fans, too, who I love and they love me, so this has been just a beautiful night.
"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.
"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."
1979 - Two players aged 40+ (Stan Wawrinka and Venus Wiliams) have won ATP and WTA-level matches in the same week for the first time since Ken Rosewall (Brisbane) and Renee Richards (Phoenix) in October 1979. Vintage.@atptour @ATPMediaInfo @WTA @WTA_insider
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 23, 2025
Williams will take on Magdalena Frech in the next round, in which she will be joined by former world number one Naomi Osaka.
The four-time major winner downed Yulia Putintseva 6-2 7-5 to tee up an enthralling encounter with Emma Raducanu.
Data Debrief: Age is just a number
Since the introduction of the Tier format in 1990, Williams is only the second player aged 45+ to win a main draw match at WTA level, after Navratilova.
It has so far been a week for the veterans to cherish, as 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka claimed a first-round win in Umag on Monday.
That means that two players aged 40+ have won ATP and WTA-level matches in the same week for the first time since Ken Rosewall (Brisbane) and Renee Richards (Phoenix) way back in October 1979.
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