Venus Williams, at 45, just did what most thought impossible — win a tour-level singles match after nearly two years away. And not just any win — she defeated 23-year-old Peyton Stearns in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) at the DC Open, proving age is just a number when you’ve got serve speeds over 110 mph and the heart of a champion.
Forget retirement talks — Venus is back in business, and she’s making history while doing it.
🕰️ Old School Power, New Chapter
It’s not just a comeback — it’s a sports fairytale. With this win, Venus becomes the second-oldest woman in tennis history to win a tour-level singles match, trailing only Martina Navratilova, who did it at 47.
What’s more astonishing? Venus hadn’t won a singles match since August 2023, hadn’t even played since March 2024, and recently had uterine fibroid surgery. For most players, that’s game over. For Venus? Just a warm-up.
🏟️ DC Open Crowd Got Vintage Venus
Walking into the 7,000-seat main court to roaring cheers, Venus delivered everything fans love:
- 🔥 Signature forehand winners
- 💥 Thunderous serves over 112 mph
- 🌀 The famous spin-and-wave victory pirouette
In short, it wasn’t nostalgia — it was dominance.
Even Stearns, world No. 35, admitted post-match:
“She played some ball tonight… Her serves were just on fire.”
Stearns wasn’t just outplayed — she was schooled by a legend who won four Grand Slam titles before Stearns was even born.
🧠 A Mind Game Victory
Venus admitted it wasn’t all physical — a lot of her battle was mental:
“Some weeks I felt like, ‘I got this.’ Other weeks, it felt like I was done. But I just kept praying for good health.”
From internal doubt to external dominance, Venus reminded everyone that resilience wins championships, even without a recent trophy in hand.
💰 Betting Insight from 188BET
For those tracking tennis odds, Venus’s win was not the favored outcome. On 188BET, the opening line had Stearns at 1.12 (heavy favorite) and Venus pushed out to 6.00 (underdog status).
But savvy punters who believed in Venus’s experience saw a golden payout — literally. Her aggressive baseline play and fearless serving were not just vintage — they were valuable.
If you caught that line early, you might be celebrating just as hard as Venus.
🔚 What’s Next for Venus?
Venus moves on to face No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech, who is 18 years younger. Age gap? Sure. Experience gap? Not even close.
With her health stabilized and confidence booming, Venus might just be planning one of the most miraculous late-career runs women’s tennis has ever seen.
And fans — whether casual or die-hard — should buckle in. The Queen isn’t done yet.
❓FAQs About Venus Williams at 45
Not quite. She’s the second-oldest. Martina Navratilova still holds that record at 47.
It was in August 2023, nearly two full years ago, at the Cincinnati Masters.
Venus opened at around 6.00, while Stearns was favored at 1.12 — making Venus’s win a serious upset.
She holds 7 singles titles, 14 doubles titles (with Serena), and 2 mixed doubles.
She had surgery in 2024 to remove uterine fibroids, which sidelined her for months.
No official plans yet — and after this performance, she’s proving she’s still got plenty left.
🏁 Conclusion: Don’t Call It a Comeback — Call It Venus
Venus Williams’s return at 45 isn’t just impressive. It’s historic, inspiring, and, frankly, kind of badass. From surgical recovery to record-smashing returns, Venus isn’t playing for legacy — she is the legacy.
And if her performance against Stearns is any indication, the WTA better start prepping for more age-defying upsets.
👉 Follow Venus’s journey. Share the story. And next time you see a longshot on 188BET, maybe remember the name Venus Williams.
