Venus Williams Becomes Second-Oldest Woman To Win WTA Tour-Level Singles Match

Tennis legend Venus Williams has become the second-oldest woman ever to win a WTA Tour-level singles match.

Venus Williams made the record after a commanding straight-sets victory over Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open on Tuesday, July 22.

Venus, 45, defeated her 35th-ranked fellow American 6-3, 6-4 in a composed performance that stunned the crowd.

With this win, she is now the oldest woman to claim a singles match victory on the WTA Tour since Martina Navratilova, who achieved a similar feat at age 47 back in 2004.

Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, entered the tournament on a wildcard, making her first appearance since March 2024. Her return to the court marks a significant moment for fans who have followed her career for more than two decades.

The DC Open, a combined WTA and ATP 500 event, saw the veteran player defy the odds against a much younger and higher-ranked opponent.

Despite not being seeded and having limited playtime in the past year, Venus Williams showed no signs of rust, breaking Stearns’ serve early in both sets and maintaining momentum throughout.

With the win, Venus advances to the second round of the tournament.

While Venus has long cemented her legacy with 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her sister Serena and countless milestones in women’s tennis, Tuesday’s victory is a reminder of her competitive spirit.