Venus Williams is back: 45-year-old tennis legend starts comeback with victory

Venus Williams returns with a victory: The former world number one wins her first doubles match in three years alongside her partner, who is 22 years younger.

Former tennis world number one Venus Williams has returned to the WTA Tour with a doubles victory 16 months after her last official match. The 45-year-old American, partnered by fellow countrywoman Hailey Baptiste, who is 22 years her junior, defeated Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) and Clervie Ngounoue (USA) 6-3, 6-1 at the tournament in Washington, DC.

"It's just nice to be able to play," Williams said. "Where I am this year is so different from last year." It's a "night and day difference" to prepare for a tournament instead of a hysterectomy like last year.

The five-time Wimbledon champion last played in Miami in March 2024. Williams now faces Peyton Stearns in the first round of singles in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night in Germany. "It's probably even harder to play doubles first because I'm not a doubles player," Williams said after the match, which was watched by around 3,000 spectators, including NBA star Kevin Durant. Her last doubles match—with sister Serena at the 2022 US Open—was almost three years ago.

There is currently speculation about Williams' return to the US Open. The organizers of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year announced on Monday that the older sister of US icon Serena Williams had registered for the preliminary mixed doubles competition. According to the updated entry list, Williams will play alongside fellow countryman Reilly Opelka on August 19 and 20 as part of US Open Fan Week. The organizers have not commented on plans for the Californian to compete in singles.