Venus Williams, 45, Becomes Oldest Woman Since Navratilova to Win Singles Match

Venus Williams' recent victory at the DC Open marks a significant milestone in professional tennis, as she became the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match at the age of 45. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given that it has been nearly two years since her last singles win . In defeating Peyton Stearns with a score of 6-3, 6-4, Williams not only demonstrated her enduring talent but also provided an inspiring narrative about resilience and determination in sports.

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.

It was the first time Williams had stepped onto the court at all for an official match since an opening-round defeat to Diana Shnaider at the Miami Open in March 2024. Her last doubles match was almost three years ago.

Williams, who is currently without a ranking in singles or doubles, has won seven grand slam singles titles and 14 in doubles alongside youngster sister Serena, as well as two mixed doubles titles in 1998.

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.

The historical context of this victory deepens its significance; Williams is now only behind Martina Navratilova, who achieved a similar feat at the age of 47 . This comparison underscores both the longevity and competitiveness that can exist in women's tennis. Williams' return to form after surgery highlights her commitment to the sport and serves as an encouraging example for athletes facing adversity in their careers.

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Sara H

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