Venus Williams Wins Doubles Match in Washington Return

Venus Williams made a triumphant return to professional tennis at the 2025 Mubadala Citi Open in Washington, competing in doubles for the first time in nearly three years. Partnering with Hailey Baptiste, the 45-year-old Williams won convincingly against Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue with a 6-3, 6-1 victory, delighting a packed crowd at the 3,000-seat John Harris Court. Williams, who owns 21 Grand Slam titles, emphasized her goal was to enjoy the moment and have fun rather than put pressure on herself, though she remains competitive and eager to win. NBA star Kevin Durant was among the spectators, highlighting the strong fan interest in her comeback match, which contrasted with the sparse attendance at a concurrent ATP singles match. Tournament director Daniel Vallverdú noted the challenge of balancing singles and doubles schedules alongside broadcast requests. Williams is also entered in the singles draw and will play her first-round match against Peyton Stearns, signaling her continued active presence on the tour.