Venus Williams wins doubles match in return to tourney play

Field Level Media
22 Jul 2025, 04:49 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Venus Williams marked her return to the WTA Tour by teaming up with Washington native Hailey Baptiste and defeating Eugenie Bouchard of Canada and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1, in a first-round doubles match at the Mubadala Citi D.C. Open on Monday.

Williams, 45, had not competed since March 2024 at the Miami Open. Earning a wild card to compete in D.C., the seven-time major singles champion will face 23-year-old Peyton Stearns in singles competition in the featured match on Tuesday night.

Three thousand fans -- including NBA star and tennis fan Kevin Durant -- packed cozy John Harris Court to witness Williams' return and cheer on her partner, one of their hometown favorites. The Williams-Stearns match will be played on the main Stadium Court and will likely be filled as well.

Williams will be the oldest woman to compete at a WTA tour-level main draw match since Kimiko Date (then 46) took the court in Tokyo in 2018. Should Williams upset the 35th-ranked Stearns, she would become the oldest player to earn a victory since Martina Navratilova won a match at Wimbledon in 2004 as a 47-year-old.

Moreover, Williams and Reilly Opelka have signed up for the newly-formatted mixed doubles competition at this year's U.S. Open. They would need a wild-card entry to compete in that event, to be held on Aug. 19-20, before the singles and doubles competitions get underway on Aug. 25.

--Field Level Media

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Calgary Monitor.

More Information

null in null

North America

Section

Venus Williams wins doubles match in return to tourney play

(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images) Venus Williams marked her return to the WTA Tour by teaming up with Washington native Hailey...

"He has ended wars, like India and Pakistan": White House Press Secretary on President Trump's global efforts

Washington [US], July 22 (ANI): White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised US President Donald Trump's foreign policy actions...

Report: Flyers' top draft pick Porter Martone to play at Michigan St.

(Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) Porter Martone, selected No. 6 overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2025 NHL Draft, will...

The worlds most explosive rivalry just turned strategic

China and India are cautiously dancing their way back to cooperation despite persisting difficulties In mid-July, Indian Foreign...

The quiet Asian engagement everyone should be watching

China and India are cautiously dancing their way back to cooperation despite persisting difficulties In mid-July, Indian Foreign...

2014 Wimbledon doubles winner Vasek Pospisil to retire

(Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images) Canadian Vasek Pospisil, who won the men's doubles title at Wimbledon in 2014, announced...

Canada

Section