In a dazzling display of resilience and legacy, Venus Williams made a triumphant return to professional tennis at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., captivating fans and peers alike with her commanding presence on the court. The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion, absent from the WTA Tour for 16 months since her last appearance at the 2024 Miami Open, stormed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over fellow American Peyton Stearns. This milestone win, which marked her as the oldest woman to secure a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004, drew heartfelt praise from Naomi Osaka, who hailed Williams as a “queen” and celebrated her enduring influence on the sport.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1, was visibly moved by Williams’ comeback, describing the aura surrounding the tennis legend as nothing short of regal. “For me, she’s like the queen, there’s a royal air around her,” Osaka said in her post-match press conference after defeating Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-5 in her own first-round match at the WTA 500 event. The 27-year-old Japanese star, who has long cited Venus and her sister Serena as her childhood idols, admitted to feeling a childlike excitement whenever she sees them. “Whenever I see her or Serena, the kid in me comes out because they were my favorite players to watch,” she shared. “It’s really cool that she’s kind of doing it for the fans too.”
Williams’ return was a testament to her enduring passion for tennis, a sport she has shaped for over three decades. Entering the tournament as a wildcard, she showcased her signature powerful groundstrokes and commanding court presence, dispatching Stearns in one hour and 37 minutes. Reflecting on the challenge of returning after such a long hiatus, Williams acknowledged the difficulty of her comeback. “You know, it’s the first step, and the first match is always extremely difficult,” she said. “It’s hard to describe how difficult it is to play a first match after so much time off.” Her victory was not just a personal triumph but a historic moment, as she joined an elite group of players competing at such a high level in their 40s.
Osaka’s admiration for Williams extends beyond her on-court prowess. “They are my mothers, they are the queens,” she declared, emphasizing the profound impact the Williams sisters have had on her career and the sport at large. Osaka, who grew up watching Venus and Serena dominate the WTA Tour, credits them for inspiring her to pick up a racket. “She’s probably the reason why I started playing,” Osaka told reporters earlier this year, reflecting on Venus’ wildcard entry into Indian Wells. “I feel like she probably doesn’t know how many people she has inspired. Because she inspired me and through me there are probably other kids that are inspired, so I guess it keeps the legacy going.” Her words underscore the ripple effect of Williams’ trailblazing career, which includes five Wimbledon titles, two US Open crowns, and four Olympic gold medals.
The Citi DC Open provided a fitting stage for Williams’ return, a tournament with deep ties to her legacy through her World TeamTennis days with the Washington Kastles. Her decision to compete, despite the summer heat and humidity, was driven by a love for the game and the hard courts, her favorite surface. “I love the game, and the hard courts, it’s my favorite surface, what I feel comfortable on,” Williams said, her passion undimmed by time. Her engagement to Italian actor Andrea Preti, confirmed during the tournament, added a personal milestone to her professional comeback, with Williams crediting Preti’s support for helping her return to the court.
Osaka, meanwhile, is navigating her own comeback journey after maternity leave and injuries. Her first-round win in Washington, part of a 20-10 season, signals her intent to reclaim her place among the elite. Yet, her focus during the tournament often shifted to Williams’ inspiring presence. “I feel like it’s so great for the sport because, obviously, I grew up watching them, and then I was able to play with them,” Osaka said. “As a player myself, I know how difficult it is to be at the top for even that long of a time, even that’s really insane. And I think people should value them a bit more.” Her playful hope for Serena’s return—“Maybe Serena’s coming here, but I don’t know. Fingers crossed”—added a lighthearted note to her tribute.
Williams’ next challenge is a second-round clash with Poland’s Magdalena Fręch, with a potential quarterfinal against No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina looming. Osaka, who fell to Emma Raducanu in the Round of 16, continues her preparations for the US Open, where she aims to add to her four major titles. The mutual respect between these two champions, forged through shared battles and admiration, highlights the enduring legacy of Venus Williams, whose comeback at 45 is a powerful reminder of her indelible mark on tennis. As Osaka put it, “My queen 👑🥹❤️❤️❤️❤️,” a sentiment echoing across the sport as fans celebrate the return of a true icon.
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