American tennis icon, Venus Williams, has etched her name into the history books once again by becoming the second oldest woman to secure a singles victory on the WTA Tour.
Williams, aged 45, defeated compatriot and world number 35, Peyton Stearns, in straight sets — 6-3, 6-4 — during the opening round of the Washington Open on Tuesday.
With this win, Williams becomes the oldest woman to claim a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova, who achieved a similar feat at age 47 in 2004.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, who gained entry to the tournament via a wildcard, now advances to the second round of the combined WTA and ATP DC Open.
Notably, this marks Williams’ return to competitive play since March 2024. Over the course of her illustrious career, she has amassed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her sister, Serena Williams.
