Venus makes winning return
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 22: Venus Williams participates in a press conference after winning a women's single match against Peyton Stearns (not pictured) on day 2 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 22, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Scott Taetsch / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Venus Williams made a triumphant return to singles tennis after a 16-month hiatus, defeating fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round of the WTA and ATP DC Open.
The 45-year-old winner of seven career Grand Slam singles titles rolled to her 819th career WTA singles victory in 97 minutes at the first US Open hardcourt tuneup event.
“It is not easy to come off after all that time and play the perfect match,” she said.
“Peyton played so well. I felt like I was trying to slow myself down from going faster and faster and faster.”
Williams had not played a WTA singles match since March of last year at Miami and had not won a match in 709 days — since defeating Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the first round at Cincinnati in August 2023.
“I wanted to play a good match and win the match,” Williams said.
“It’s so rewarding to come back after a layoff and injuries.”