Over four decades, on the tennis and pickleball courts and beyond, Williams proved to be a one-of-a-kind talent. She emerged victorious against fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4, moving onto the round of 16 at the DC Open. With this victory, Williams is already a trailblazer. She is currently the oldest player to win a singles match on the WTA Tour since Martina Navratilova won at Wimbledon in 2004 at 47 years old.
For Williams, the steps she has taken away from the court have led to a triumphant return to elite tennis. Until this week, she had been posted as “unactive” on the WTA Tour. She recorded her first singles win since defeating Veronika Kudermetova in the first round of this year’s Cincinnati Open. This victory over Stearns is an important step for her. Prior to this bout, Williams suffered a loss in March 2024. She fell to ace-thrower Diana Shnaider in her last singles match of the week at the Miami Open.
After his dominating week, it’s safe to say this has been Williams’ biggest success. On Monday, she teamed with partner Hailey Baptiste to celebrate her first doubles win. It marked her first doubles match in almost three years. After not competing for four years, she showed that she’s still capable of being one of the world’s top competitors. Following their recent victory, Williams and Baptiste prepare for their anticipated next doubles match. They’ll face American Taylor Townsend and China’s Zhang Shuai in doubles Wednesday.
Williams will be looking for more good fortune at the DC Open. She will meet Poland’s Magdalena Fręch in the next round on Thursday. Her historic success in singles and doubles has thrilled her devoted fan base and the broader tennis world. This is a testament both to her longevity and to her uncompromising commitment to the game.
With a remarkable career that includes seven Grand Slam singles titles and 14 doubles titles alongside younger sister Serena, Williams continues to inspire both young athletes and seasoned players. She is the owner of two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, won in 1998. Off the court, her marriage keeps her on her toes. Currently engaged to Italian actor Andrea Preti, she has no shortage of passion in her celebrated life.
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