Washington, D.C. – Tennis legend Venus Williams made
headlines on Tuesday by becoming the second-oldest woman ever to win a WTA
Tour-level singles match, defeating fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 in
the opening round of the Washington Open.
At 45 years old, Williams stunned the tennis world by
overcoming the 22-year-old world No. 35, marking a triumphant return to the
court after a competitive hiatus that began in March 2024.
Her victory makes her the oldest woman to win a WTA
singles match since Martina Navratilova, who achieved the feat at 47 years old
in 2004.
A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams
entered the tournament via a wildcard and showed glimpses of the resilience and
shot-making that once made her world No. 1.
Despite the media buzz around her age-defying
performance, Williams was characteristically grounded when asked whether the
win was about proving critics wrong.
“No, because I’m not here for anyone else except for
me,” she said post-match.
“I have nothing to prove. Zip. Zero. I’m here for me
because I want to be here. And proving anyone wrong or thinking about anyone
has never gotten me a win and has never gotten me a loss.”
Williams' milestone win comes amid growing
conversations about longevity in sport, especially in tennis, where players are
increasingly extending their careers into their late 30s and 40s.
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