WASHINGTON – Tennis legend Venus Williams returned to competition at the DC Open, marking her first participation in a tournament in over a year. On this occasion, and for the first time in almost three years, she did so in doubles. In her first service, Williams, 45, and winner of 21 Grand Slam titles in singles and doubles, connected a powerful serve that was canceled by a foot fault call. Despite the disbelief, both from Williams and the other players, the tennis player continued with her game, showing her characteristic power in some shots and missing others, partnering with Hailey Baptiste. The Williams/Baptiste duo achieved a victory with a score of 6-3 and 6-1 against Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue.
Williams, who hadn’t participated in a tournament since the Miami Open in March 2024, expressed her desire to enjoy the moment and give her best. During the match, Williams showed her enthusiasm, celebrating the points with Baptiste and connecting with the audience, who applauded her repeatedly. The match took place on the John Harris court, with a capacity of 3,000 spectators, where NBA star Kevin Durant was also present. The tournament director, Daniel Vallverdú, commented on the court assignments, explaining that the tournament seeks to balance the schedules of singles and doubles, coordinating with the requests of the broadcasters. Williams’ presentation highlighted her career, mentioning her “one of the best serves in the history of the game” and her multiple achievements, including seven individual Grand Slam titles, 14 in doubles with Serena, and four Olympic gold medals. Frances Tiafoe, US Open semifinalist, praised Williams, highlighting her impact on women’s tennis and the sport in general. The presence of Williams generated great expectation, with the audience present capturing the moment with their phones. In singles, Williams will face Peyton Stearns, a young American currently ranked number 35. Emma Navarro, US Open semifinalist, also commented on Williams’ return, acknowledging her legendary status. Williams revealed that her absence from tennis was due to a procedure to remove fibroids from her uterus. The tennis player shared that her health experience was “very scary”, and that a year ago she couldn’t imagine playing tennis. Currently, she feels grateful for her recovery and return to competition.My personal goal is to have fun and enjoy the moment, without putting too much pressure on myself.
Venus Williams
