Venus Williams is back.
Many thought that the tennis icon, a former world No 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion, had silently left the sport, having not played since Indian Wells and Miami in March 2024.
However, Williams has ended her 16-month absence from the WTA Tour by accepting a wildcard into singles and doubles action at the Citi DC Open in Washington this week.
Having turned 45 back in June, the American will be among the oldest players to ever compete in a tour-level singles match.
Here, we look at Williams and a handful of other stars who have competed well into their forties this century.
Venus Williams – 45
It has been over 30 years since a 14-year-old Williams made her professional tour debut in Stanford back in 1994, kickstarting a legendary career.
The American has