Venus Williams, 45, becomes oldest player to win WTA singles match in more than 20 years

CNN Venus Williams rolled back the years to produce a brilliant display as she eliminated fellow American Peyton Stearns - - to reach the round of of the DC Open Williams becomes the oldest performer to win a singles match on the WTA Tour since Martina Navratilova won in the first round of Wimbledon in aged It was Williams second tour accomplishment in as multiple days after she recorded a doubles win at the DC Open alongside Hailey Baptiste on Monday You know it s the first step and the first match is dependably extremely arduous Williams declared after the match per the WTA It s hard to describe how challenging it is to play a first match after so much time off So going into the match I know I have the ability to win but it s all about really winning So this is the best outcome to play a good match and win I m here with my friends family people I love and the fans too who I love and they love me so this has been just a beautiful night It was an impressive display from Williams against world No Stearns fighting back from a break to love in her opening system championship and again effectively using her aggressive serving and returning as a weapon Tuesday s win was Williams first singles match on tour since an opening-round defeat to Diana Shnaider at the Miami Open in March while her last preeminence came in against Veronika Kudermetova in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open Monday was also Williams first doubles match in almost three years and until this week she had been listed as unactive on the WTA Tour Over the curriculum of her career the American former world No won seven grand slam singles titles and in doubles alongside younger sister Serena as well as two mixed doubles grand slam titles in There are no limits for excellence Williams revealed It s all about what s in your head and how much you re able to put into it If you put in the work mentally physically and emotionally then you can have the conclusion It doesn t matter how a multitude of times you fall down Doesn t matter how a multitude of times you get sick or get hurt or whatever it is If you continue to believe and put in the work there is an opportunity there is space for you Williams faces a tough test in Poland s world No Magdalena Fr ch in the next round on Thursday while her next doubles match with Baptiste is scheduled for Wednesday against fellow American Taylor Townsend and China s Zhang Shuai EngagementFollowing the match Williams also spoke about her latest engagement to Italian actor Andrea Preti who was in attendance to watch her play for the first time My fianc is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing Williams revealed There were so multiple times where I just desired to coast and kind of chill Do you know how hard it is to play tennis You guys don t know how much work goes into this like it s to except you re running the whole time Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day So he encouraged me to get through this and it s wonderful to be here He s never seen me play