Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams has celebrated victory within the final 16 of the ladies’s doubles on the Washington Open after 16 months away from tennis.
The 45-year-old former world primary, who accepted a wildcard for the event, had not competed because the Miami Open in March 2024 – and final received on the Cincinnati Open in August 2023.
Williams and fellow American Hailey Baptiste beat Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3 6-1.
“It was inspiring to be out right here,” Williams advised Sky Sports activities. “I like this sport and nonetheless hitting it massive.”
She’s going to face one other American, Peyton Stearns, within the first spherical of the singles competitors on Tuesday.
Williams, who was enjoying doubles for the primary time in three years, joked she wished she may have partnered with 23-year-old Baptiste, the world quantity 50, as a substitute of her sister Serena – the 23-time main champion.
She mentioned: “I believe from the primary level I may see that we had been going to be an excellent group. We simply ought to have began enjoying earlier, years in the past, proper? I believe Serena was simply in the way in which.”
Venus, who doesn’t have a rating, received 14 main titles alongside Serena within the girls’s doubles, because the Williams sisters dominated the game for a few years.
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