On 22 July 2025, Venus Williams made a stunning return to singles tennis with a 6–3, 6–4 victory over rising American star Peyton Stearns at the Citi DC Open. The match, held at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Washington, D.C., marked Williams's first singles appearance in over 16 months.
While the 45-year-old entered as a wildcard, the draw raised immediate questions about whether the WTA had intentionally set up a symbolic 'passing of the torch' encounter. Instead, it was the veteran who reminded fans she is not done yet.
