Venus Williams Wins in Comeback Doubles Match at DC Open/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Venus Williams made a successful return to professional tennis, winning a doubles match at the DC Open alongside Hailey Baptiste. The match marked her first tournament appearance in over a year and her first doubles contest since 2022. Energized by the crowd and her health recovery, the 45-year-old legend looked relaxed and powerful on court.
Venus Williams Comeback Quick Looks
- Successful return: First match in over a year ends in 6-3, 6-1 win.
- Doubles dominance: Teamed with Hailey Baptiste to defeat Bouchard and Ngounoue.
- Health turnaround: Williams recovered from fibroid surgery last year.
- Fan favorite: Match played in front of packed 3,000-seat crowd and NBA star Kevin Durant.
- Legacy player: 21 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic golds in career.
- Next match: Set to face Peyton Stearns in singles this week.
Venus Williams Wins in Comeback Doubles Match at DC Open
Deep Look
Venus Williams returned to professional tennis on Monday evening with flair and composure, clinching a 6-3, 6-1 doubles victory at the DC Open with partner Hailey Baptiste. The 45-year-old former world No. 1 hadn’t played since March 2024 and hadn’t competed in a doubles match since the 2022 U.S. Open, but her presence electrified the crowd from the first serve — even when that opening serve was called a foot fault.
“I’m just grateful to be here again,” Williams said post-match. “This feels entirely different from where I was a year ago, preparing for surgery instead of matches.”
Williams has spoken openly about her health journey, revealing in a recent NBC interview that she underwent surgery to remove fibroids from her uterus. That ordeal helped put her career and return into perspective.
“At the end of the day, nothing matters if your health isn’t there,” she said. “Coming back feels freeing now.”
A Star Among Stars
Playing at John Harris Court, the match drew a capacity crowd of 3,000, including NBA star Kevin Durant, who arrived mid-match to the delight of the fans. Williams and Baptiste’s chemistry was evident on court, exchanging high-fives and fist bumps after strong points, with Williams frequently smiling and engaging the crowd.
“The crowd was insane,” she said. “Walking onto the court, you could just feel the love for Venus — and I didn’t want to let her down.”
Their opponents, 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard and rising American Clervie Ngounoue, couldn’t match the experience and rhythm of Williams and Baptiste. After an early exchange of games, Williams’ signature serve and powerful groundstrokes helped put the match away quickly.
A Tennis Icon’s Return
Before the match, the announcer reminded fans of Williams’ extraordinary résumé: seven Grand Slam singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles (all won with sister Serena), and four Olympic gold medals. She turned pro in 1994 and has been a trailblazer and role model for over three decades.
“She’s 14 years older than me and still going strong,” said Bouchard, 31, who recently announced that she’ll retire after next week’s tournament in Montreal. “I have nothing but respect for her. She’s such a legend. That was a pretty cool crowd for a doubles match.”
Williams’ career is marked by firsts and longevity. She’s widely considered to have one of the greatest serves in tennis history and was the first Black woman to reach No. 1 in the WTA rankings.
Looking Ahead
Fans won’t have to wait long to see Williams back in action. She’s scheduled to play a singles match on Tuesday night against Peyton Stearns, the 23-year-old American who has surged to No. 35 in the world after winning NCAA titles at the University of Texas.
“I’ve been training for months to get to this moment,” Williams said. “Now it’s time to go out and enjoy it.”
Whether this return is a brief stint or the beginning of a longer run remains to be seen, but for now, Venus Williams is once again competing, winning, and delighting fans — and that alone is cause for celebration.
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