Tennis legend Venus Williams made a dazzling return to the WTA Tour at age 45, teaming up with fellow American Hailey Baptiste to secure a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory in the women’s doubles round of 16 at the DC Open on Monday, July 21.
The match marked Williams’ first official win since August 2023, and her first doubles appearance in nearly three years. The veteran duo defeated Clervie Ngounoue and Eugenie Bouchard, the latter of whom is playing in her final professional season.
Following the win, Williams gave the crowd her signature post-match twirl, soaking in a standing ovation that celebrated not just a win, but a resilient comeback story.
“It’s just nice to be able to play,” Williams told the Associated Press. “Where I am at this year is so much different where I was at last year. It’s night and day.”
Comeback After Health Struggles
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, has battled significant health issues in recent years. She revealed earlier this month to NBC that she underwent surgery to remove uterine fibroids, a condition she says had impacted both her life and career for years.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if your health is not there,” she said. “It definitely put it in perspective for me… and maybe made it easier to make the decision to come back out here and play even freer.”
The last time Williams played an official match was a first-round singles loss at the Miami Open in March 2024. Her last doubles match dates back to 2021.
Currently unranked in both singles and doubles, the tennis icon accepted wild cards to compete in both brackets at the DC Open.
Chemistry With Baptiste
Williams and Baptiste, both Washington natives, showed strong on-court chemistry from the start. Williams joked after the match that their partnership was long overdue.
“From the first point, I could see that we were going to be a good team,” she said. “We just should have started playing earlier, years ago, right? I think Serena was just in the way.”
Williams and her sister Serena Williams won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, and Venus has also won two mixed doubles titles.
What’s Next
Venus Williams is scheduled to make her return to singles competition on Tuesday, facing American Peyton Stearns in the opening round of the DC Open. A win would mark her first singles victory in nearly a year.
As she looks to add another chapter to her illustrious career, fans and fellow players alike are celebrating a legend whose longevity, courage, and love for the game continue to inspire.
