At 45, Venus Williams is still defying time and logic. In Washington, the tennis legend pulled off a comeback for the ages, beating World No. 35 Peyton Stearns, a 23-year-old, in straight sets. For most players, a 16-month absence from the WTA Tour might mark the end. For Venus, it was just a pause. No one saw it coming. Not after she last competed in March 2024. Not after she hadn’t won a singles match since 2023. Especially not after the WTA itself had her listed as “inactive.” And yet, under the lights in D.C., the 7-time Grand Slam champion reminded everyone exactly who she is! And many are celebrating her return, including Coco Gauff.

Many doubted whether this comeback was even necessary. But Venus didn’t just prove she belonged; she proved the greats write their own timelines. She now stands as the oldest woman to win a WTA Tour singles match since Martina Navratilova did it at 47 in 2004. It was Venus Williams’ first singles victory in nearly two years and a triumphant return to competition following surgery for uterine fibroids. Her serve clocked in at 112 mph, her footwork was sharp, and the D.C. crowd couldn’t have asked for a better show.

Tennis royalty quickly took notice. In a short clip on X, Billie Jean King beamed, “Venus. What a champion! Great going tonight; you played beautifully and good luck in your next round and beyond. And I hope I get to see you soon. Fantastic, what a champion!” Naomi Osaka also took to social media and wrote a 2-word message that encapsulated what everyone felt. She wrote, “My queen 👑🥹❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️”

Coco Gauff, who’s never shied away from calling Venus a hero, posted an Instagram Story featuring a video of the match with a simple, punchy caption: “amazing!!!!”

Coco Gauff and Venus Williams have a unique connection. Their story began at Wimbledon 2019, when 15-year-old Gauff stunned the world by beating Venus in straight sets. At the net, the teen whispered, “Thank you for what you did; I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” The moment felt like more than an upset. It felt like a passing of the torch.

The 21-year-old has always been vocal about her admiration of the Williams sisters.

Coco Gauff opens up on “surreal” moment with Venus Williams

Coco Gauff grew up idolizing the Williams sisters, practicing on the same public courts in Delray Beach, Florida, where Venus Williams and Serena once trained. In a past interview with Vogue, she said she’d been inspired by them since she was four. She’s never hidden the fact that, as a Black woman in tennis, their legacy cleared a path for her own.

That reverence was front and center again when the two reunited at the French Open, where Gauff was on her way to winning the title. During a sit-down interview on TNT, she turned to the 7-time major winner and said, “You and Serena are the reason I started this sport, and being here is surreal. I didn’t know you were going to be at the desk. I’m really happy to be here.”

“I’m having a little moment here, so I’m trying to get the words out,” she added. “I never thought when I picked up a racquet that I would be here, sitting with you, having this conversation.”

Now, the 45-year-old trailblazer keeps moving forward. She faces fifth seed Magdalena Fręch in the second round on Thursday. And she’s not just in the singles draw. Venus Williams is also playing doubles with compatriot Hailey Baptiste. The duo won their first match against Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue, and next up are Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai on Wednesday. Could this be the start of one last magical run for Venus Williams?