Playing in a tournament for the first time in over a year—and appearing in a doubles match for the first time since 2022—Venus Williams stepped onto the court at the DC Open on Monday and immediately made her presence known with a powerful serve. That serve was nullified by a foot-fault call, drawing smiles from all four players on the court, including Williams herself.
Undeterred, the 45-year-old tennis legend, who holds 21 Grand Slam titles in singles and doubles combined, teamed up with Hailey Baptiste to score a commanding 6-3, 6-1 win over Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue. The match drew a full crowd, which included NBA star Kevin Durant by the end of the first set.
“It just feels great to be playing again,” Williams said. “Where I am now is completely different from last year. Then, I was preparing for surgery, not tennis.” She recently spoke about undergoing a procedure to remove fibroids from her uterus, and she credited that experience with giving her a new perspective. “When your health isn’t there, nothing else really matters. That realization probably made it easier for me to return and play with more freedom.”
Before Monday, her last match came at the Miami Open in March 2024. Ahead of her Washington appearance, she said her two goals were simple: enjoy the experience and win. She managed both—trading fist bumps and high-fives with Baptiste, laughing during the match, and soaking in the cheers from the crowd.
Baptiste, a 23-year-old Washington native, admitted to feeling nervous before playing with one of her idols. “I didn’t want to let her down in her first match back,” she said. “But the crowd was unbelievable. From the moment we walked out, we could feel the excitement and support.”
The duo played on John Harris Court, which seats 3,000 and was filled with fans. Meanwhile, a nearby singles match featuring Americans Reilly Opelka and Murphy Cassone drew only a sparse crowd in the 7,500-seat stadium. Tournament director Daniel Vallverdú explained that match placements aim to balance ATP and WTA schedules while meeting broadcaster requirements.
As Williams was introduced before her first doubles appearance since partnering with sister Serena at the 2022 U.S. Open, the announcer highlighted her legendary career—seven Grand Slam singles titles, 14 in doubles (all with Serena), and four Olympic gold medals.
Her opponent, 31-year-old Bouchard—who revealed that the upcoming Montreal tournament will be her last—praised Williams’ longevity. “She’s 14 years older than me and still going strong. I have so much respect for her,” she said. “That was an incredible crowd for a doubles match.”
Fans rose to their feet with phones in hand as Venus entered the court and again when the match ended. Her return isn’t over yet: she’s also scheduled to compete in singles on Tuesday night against 23-year-old Peyton Stearns, currently ranked No. 35 and a former NCAA champion at the University of Texas.
“I’ve been training for months to get back here,” Williams said, signaling that her comeback is just beginning.
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