What retirement?! Venus Williams becomes second-oldest winner at 45
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 23.07.25. | 17:45
The older of Williams' sisters triumphs against world number 35 Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open
She hasn't played a single tennis match since March 2024. Yet, it didn't bother Venus Williams, 45, to shine on in the opening round of the Washington Open by beating fellow American Peyton Stearns 2-0 (6-3, 6-4), who is 22 years younger than her.
This way, Venus became the second-oldest woman to win a WTA Tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova at the age of 47 in 2004.
Won at age 14.
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) July 23, 2025
Won at age 45.
Venus Williams. pic.twitter.com/f0EfO8HcS5
Asked if she maybe felt satisfaction in proving people wrong, seven-time singles Grand Slam winner Williams, who gained entry to the tournament via a wildcard, 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."
Venus Williams after becoming the oldest WTA match winner since 2004:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 23, 2025
“I had to come back for the insurance, because they informed me this year that I’m on cobra. So it’s like, I got to get my benefits on” 😭😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/Npu7d6c5Wt
Williams, who won 14 Grand Slams in the doubles alongside sister Serena, last won a singles match in August 2023.
Venus, a former world number one, had won four Grand Slam titles by the time Stearns was born in 2001.
"She played some ball tonight," Stearns said.
"She was moving really well, which I wasn't expecting too much, honestly. Her serves were just on fire."
Interestingly, Williams never said she had retired, but was listed by the WTA as 'inactive' after 16 months out.
Williams will face Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech in the second round.
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