The great Venus Williams marked her first appearance on the WTA Tour in 16 months with a win at the Mubadala Citi DC Open as she became the second-oldest woman to win a match in top-level tennis.

Before her first-round match at the WTA 500 event in Washington DC, the former world No 1’s last professional match was at the Miami Open in March 2024, when she lost her opener against Diana Shnaider. Meanwhile, you had to go back to August 2023 for her last victory as on that occasion she defeated Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati Open.

But the seven-time Grand Slam winner returned to winning ways 34 days after celebrating her 45th birthday as she defeated fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4.

Williams – who has won 49 WTA Tour singles titles during her illustrious career – is the sec

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