US EditionVenus Williams, at 45, becomes oldest woman since Martina Navratilova to win a match
WASHINGTON, D.C., JUL 22 – Venus Williams returned after a 16-month hiatus for surgery, winning her first singles match in nearly two years and rising over 9,000 ranking places, WTA data shows.
- At 45 years old, Venus Williams secured a singles victory over Peyton Stearns at the DC Open on Tuesday night, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 and becoming the second-oldest woman to claim a tour-level match win.
- Williams had not played an official singles match since March 2024 and missed time due to surgery to remove uterine fibroids, returning after being listed inactive by the WTA.
- The match featured Williams' strong serves and grit, and she said she wanted to play a good match and win, showing she is focused on herself and has nothing to prove.
- Williams emphasized that dedicating effort across mental, physical, and emotional aspects is essential to achieve success, and when asked if disproving skeptics brought her satisfaction, a reporter inquired about her feelings on proving doubters wrong.
- This victory marks a significant comeback for Williams, who acknowledges she must fight for every match and is praying for good health to continue competing at a high level.
234 Articles
234 Articles
At 45 years old, despite years of injury and defacies, the legend of tennis beats the world 35? and revives the question of its retirement.
Peerless will - BusinessWorld Online
Given Venus Williams’ sparkling resume, the need for further validation clearly does not factor into her decision to keep playing. At 45, she has nothing left to prove — not to the public, not to the sport, and certainly not to herself. Still and all, she has continually resolved to compete in Tour-level events despite her myriad challenges, including health issues associated with Sjögren’s Syndrome and uterine fibroids. Which, in a nutshell, wa…
Helena Independent Record
A historic win by 45-year-old Venus Williams shows there are no limits for excellence
There are plenty of reasons why this particular victory by Venus Williams in this particular tennis match resonates with so many folks.
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