Venus Williams has competed at a tournament for the first time in more than a year — and in doubles for the first time in nearly three — and has come out with a victory.

Venus Williams announced this month that she'd compete in the DC Open. The 45-year-old tennis star hasn't competed in a tournament in over a year. Williams kicked off her run at the DC Open with an impressive doubles victory.

Playing alongside Hailey Baptiste, who is nearly half her age at 23 years old, Williams beat Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and American teenager Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1 in the first round on Monday. Then on Tuesday, she stunned former NCAA champion Peyton Stearns, who is ranked 35th in the world, in a 6-3, 6-4 singles upset.

At 45, Venus Williams became the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match, behind Martina Navratilova. Afterward, she confirmed her engagement to actor Andrea Preti.

After spending over a year on the sidelines, WTA icon Venus Williams returned to action at the 2025 DC Open. The American tennis star entered both the singles and doubles draw, where she teamed up with compatriot Hailey Baptiste.

Williams left the tennis world in awe after her performance. Naomi Osaka, who also won Tuesday in the round of 32 at the Citi Open, simply said of Williams in a post after the match, "my queen" with a crown emoji and multiple heart emojis.