Tennis all-season legend Venus Williams has marked a remarkable return to professional competition at the age of 45, securing a commanding doubles victory at the DC Open following a 16-month absence due to health issues.
Williams partnered with fellow American Hailey Baptiste to defeat Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and 18-year-old Clervie Ngounoue in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, in front of a spirited Washington crowd. The win marked her first competitive appearance since undergoing surgery last year.
Reflecting on her comeback, Williams admitted the doubles format posed an unfamiliar challenge:
“Hailey asked me how it felt afterward. Honestly, it’s probably harder coming back through doubles because it’s not my usual game. But having her alongside me helped a lot. She’s been playing regularly and performing well, and that gave us momentum.”
Williams described her return to the court as a personal victory, given her battle to regain full fitness.
“It’s night and day compared to last year. Back then I wasn’t even thinking about tennis. I just wanted to heal and be healthy,” she said. “You can play all the matches in the world, but if your health is gone, everything else fades into the background.”
Her singles comeback is scheduled for Tuesday night, where she will face fellow American Peyton Stearns on the main court.
An estimated 3,000 fans attended her doubles return, including NBA superstar and Washington native Kevin Durant. Williams was delighted to spot the basketball icon courtside:
“I was like, ‘Let me show KD what I’ve got,’” she laughed. “But they hit every ball to Hailey!”
Baptiste also shared her excitement at the atmosphere:
“It’s so cool that he came out to support us,” she said. “The chants of ‘K-D’ really lit up the crowd.”
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, emphasized the emotional weight of her return:
“You train for months for this, and you never know if you’ll win until the final point. It’s special to share that emotion with the fans.”
Her opponent Eugenie Bouchard, who is set to retire next week in Canada, praised Williams’ enduring presence in the sport:
“It’s always special to play Venus. She’s 14 years older than me and still out here competing. I have nothing but respect for her, she’s a legend.”
Williams’ return adds another chapter to her storied career and serves as a testament to her resilience, longevity, and enduring love for the game. Welcome back, Venus. The game still needs your brilliance. Congratulations once again on preserving your legendary legacy , your flowers are well deserved even at 45.
