Venus Williams Turns Back the Clock: 45-Year-Old Beats Stearns in Washington

Second Oldest WTA Singles Match Winner Delivers Vintage Performance

There’s something magical about watching Venus Williams on a tennis court. A player who redefined the women’s game in the late 90s and early 2000s, Williams reminded everyone on Monday night in Washington that greatness doesn’t follow a timeline. At 45 years old, the American legend rolled back the years with a straight-sets win over world number 35 Peyton Stearns, becoming the second oldest woman in WTA Tour history to win a singles match.

In what was just her first singles appearance since March 2024, Williams delivered a composed and powerful display to dispatch her much younger opponent 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Washington Open. The win was made all the more remarkable considering Stearns is 22 years her junior — born in 2001, when Venus already had four Grand Slam titles under her belt.

It was a performance that defied age, expectations, and perhaps even logic. But for Venus Williams, it was just another chapter in a career that has always been about pushing boundaries.

Venus Williams Makes History at 45

With Monday’s victory, Williams became the second oldest woman to ever win a WTA Tour-level singles match. Only Martina Navratilova, who was 47 when she claimed her last win in 2004, stands ahead of her on that list. But where Navratilova’s win came as more of a ceremonial swansong, Venus’s triumph in Washington had grit, intention, and echoes of her old dominance.

From the very first point, Williams looked sharp. Her serve — always one of her most lethal weapons — was clicking from the outset, and she controlled the tempo of rallies with her trademark flat groundstrokes. There were moments when her court movement evoked memories of her prime, gliding across the baseline with poise and power.

Her opponent, Stearns, was visibly taken aback. “She played some ball tonight,” said the 23-year-old American. “She was moving really well, which I wasn’t expecting too much, honestly. Her serves were just on fire.”

Not Playing to Prove a Point

What made this victory even more striking was the attitude Williams brought to the court. She wasn’t chasing records or trying to prove doubters wrong. She was simply doing what she loves.

When asked post-match if there was any satisfaction in proving people wrong, Venus didn’t hesitate. “No, because I’m not here for anyone else except for me,” she said matter-of-factly. “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.”

That mindset — fiercely independent, completely self-driven — has always been at the core of Venus Williams’ success. It’s what made her a trailblazer in the early days of her career, and it’s what keeps her competitive now, even as most of her peers have long since retired.

A Comeback in Context

Washington Open: Venus Williams, 45, becomes second oldest to win WTA Tour level match – India Today

Though she never officially announced her retirement, Williams had been away from the singles game for 16 months and was listed as “inactive” by the WTA. Her last singles win came in August 2023, and she hadn’t played competitively since March of this year.

But Washington offered a new stage, and thanks to a wildcard entry, Venus was back under the lights. She actually returned to action a day earlier in the doubles competition, teaming up with fellow American Hailey Baptiste to beat Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1.

That doubles win may have sparked something in her. There was a freedom and rhythm to her game that hadn’t been seen in some time. Against Stearns, she rode that momentum perfectly.

This wasn’t just a nostalgia act. Venus earned this win with quality tennis. And perhaps most encouragingly, she looked like she still had more to give.

Next Up: Magdalena Frech Awaits

The journey continues in Washington, as Williams now prepares for a second-round clash against fifth seed Magdalena Frech of Poland. Frech, currently ranked inside the world’s top 50, will offer a different kind of test — steady, consistent, and with far fewer unforced errors than the young and aggressive Stearns.

Still, Williams will take confidence from her first-round performance. The court conditions, the crowd support, and her own fitness levels all seemed to be aligning. And while no one is expecting a deep tournament run, Venus is not the type to set limits on herself.

If nothing else, she’s showing that passion, experience, and sheer love for the game can still carry weight in this new era of tennis.

A Career That Still Inspires

Even if her win over Stearns turns out to be one of her final few on the WTA circuit, it stands as a poignant reminder of all that Venus Williams has given to tennis — and continues to give. She’s a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, and along with sister Serena, part of the most iconic doubles pairing the sport has ever seen.

But beyond the stats and trophies, Venus represents longevity, resilience, and evolution. In an era where most top players retire in their early 30s, she is still competing — and still winning — at 45.

In many ways, her presence on tour is symbolic. She’s not just there to win matches; she’s there to show that it’s okay to love what you do and to keep doing it, even when the world tells you it’s time to stop.

Final Word: Venus, Always Venus

There are few stories in sport that resonate quite like this one. A 45-year-old champion returning to the singles court after a year and a half, defeating a rising star half her age, and doing it all with grace, power, and zero interest in outside validation.

Venus Williams may no longer be the player who once dominated Wimbledon’s grass or New York’s hard courts, but she remains something more important: a living legend who continues to write new chapters.

And if Monday night was anything to go by, she’s far from done.