Venus, 45, becomes 2nd oldest winner

BBC Online :

Venus Williams became the second oldest woman to win a WTA Tour-level singles match by beating Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open.

Williams, 45, overcame world number 35 and fellow American Stearns, who is 22 years her junior, 6-3 6-4 in the first round.

Williams is the oldest woman to win a singles match on tour since Martina Navratilova at the age of 47 in 2004.

Seven-time singles Grand Slam winner Williams, who gained entry to the tournament via a wildcard, had not played since March 2024.

Asked if she felt satisfaction in proving people wrong, she said: “No, because I’m not here for anyone else except for me.”

“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, who won 14 Grand Slams in the doubles alongside sister Serena, last won a singles match in August 2023.

Although Williams never said she had retired, she was listed by the WTA as ‘inactive’ after 16 months out.