WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a historic win, 45-year-old tennis icon Venus Williams has become the oldest woman to win on the WTA Tour in 21 years, defeating 23-year-old Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 at the Citi Open tennis tournament on Tuesday.
Williams’ victory resonated with many, not only because of her age, but also due to her 16-month hiatus from competition and her recent surgery for uterine fibroids.
When asked about the message others might take away from her performance, Williams replied, “There are no limits for excellence. It’s all about what’s in your head and how much you’re able to put into it.”
Williams, who has been winning at tennis for decades, has accumulated four major singles trophies before Stearns was born and eventually wound up with seven, five at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open, plus another 14 in women’s doubles — all with her sister Serena — and two in mixed doubles.
Her opponent, Stearns, who is ranked 35th, expressed admiration for Williams’ courage to step back onto the court, saying, “That takes a lot of guts to come back here and play, win or lose.”
Other players, including Taylor Townsend, Naomi Osaka, and Frances Tiafoe, also commended Williams’ achievement.
DC Open chairman Mark Ein said it was an easy decision to grant Williams a wild-card entry, citing her iconic status in the sport.
Williams is set to face 27-year-old Magdalena Frech on Thursday and has received a wild-card invitation for next month’s Cincinnati Open.
As Williams continues to defy expectations, she remains focused on her own goals, saying, “I’m not here for anyone else except for me. And I also have nothing to prove. Zip. Zero. I’m here for me, because I want to be here.”
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