Last week’s action at the Citi DC Open delivered fireworks, from Taylor Townsend soaring to World No. 1 in doubles, to Leylah Fernandez shocking the field with a title run, and Alex De Minaur conquering the men’s draw. But the real headline-stealer? Venus Williams, defying time itself. At 45, and after a 16-month hiatus, she returned with flashes of brilliance that lit up the court. And now, former pro Sam Querrey has chimed in, loud and clear. He’s not just impressed; he’s fired up. Querrey made his feelings crystal clear about Venus’ Citi Open comeback and dropped a bold prediction for the upcoming US Open. 

When it comes to legends, expectations are always high, but Venus Williams? She threw that playbook out the window in Washington, DC. In the latest episode of Served, former ATP star Sam Querrey peeled back the layers on Venus’ unexpected and electrifying return to the WTA stage. When asked how impressed he was by her comeback and potential runs in Cincinnati and the US Open mixed doubles with Reilly Opelka, Sam didn’t hold back. “Look, I didn’t have like the bar set that high for Venus. I didn’t think she was going to win a match. She hasn’t played much. She’s 45 years old,” he admitted bluntly.

But Venus doesn’t quite exist. She made the world sit up and watch with a first-round win at the Citi Open, overcoming world No. 35 Peyton Stearns: 22 years her junior, 6-3, 6-4. And she didn’t stop there. She joined forces with fellow DC native Hailey Baptiste in doubles before that and steamrolled Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1. “Before winning that match against Peyton Stearns, she had also won a doubles match. She and Haley Baptiste beat Bouchard and someone,” Sam pointed out, painting the picture of a resurgent warrior.

Venus’s campaign eventually halted in the second round against the tournament’s fifth seed, Magdalena Fręch. It was a tough pill, a 6-2, 6-2 loss, but one that didn’t erase the shimmer of her comeback. Sam broke it down, “I mean, it was like a good opportunity for her to beat, like get a match win in, and then she looked good against Stearns, and then her second round, who’d you play second round? Fręch, the five seed and lost.” But that spark she ignited? It burned bright.

Querrey didn’t mince words when he acknowledged her fire. “She looked pretty good, like quite frankly she surprised me, and because of how well she played now wild card in a Cincy, and now maybe she’ll get a wild card into the Open,” he noted. With the Cincinnati Masters looming, Venus has already bagged wild cards, giving her one more shot to dazzle. “I think she has to play well in Cincy. Doesn’t have to win. I think if she plays well in Cincy, she gets a wild card into the Open. I don’t think it’s a lock for her to go wild card into the US Open,” Sam explained with gritty realism.

Despite her age and time away, Venus still commands the court and the crowd. “Venus looked pretty, like I didn’t think she was going to play that well, and she looked pretty good out there. So, kudos to her for winning a match against someone ranked 35 in the world,” he added. The raw admiration in his voice was unmistakable.

And if there was any doubt about her aura, Sam sealed it: “The crowd was also like her court was packed. Like people were interested, intrigued, and wanted to check it out. Good for her.” Fans didn’t just watch, they roared, clapped, and leaned into every shot Venus unleashed, celebrating a legacy that still pulses with power.

So, after bowing out of the Citi Open, what did Venus say? The silence spoke volumes, but her racket did even more. She’s not done yet, not by a long shot.

Venus Williams opens up after a tough loss at the DC Open.

After more than three decades on the court, Venus Williams continues to rewrite what longevity in sports truly means. And last week at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., the 45-year-old icon proved she’s still swinging with passion. After a promising start, snagging wins in both singles and doubles, Venus faced a tough test under the lights. World No. 24 Magdalena Fręch of Poland handed her a tough loss in the round of 16, ending her first tournament run in 16 months.

Yet, as always, Venus exited with class and courage. “Not the result I wanted, but still a learning experience,” she said. There’s no quitting in her playbook, only evolution. “The part about sport [and] life is that you never stop learning,” she reflected, holding the moment with grace. Her return wasn’t just about matches, it was about reconnecting with fans, with fire, and with purpose. “The fans in D.C. are just epic. I couldn’t have been happier with my first week back.”

Amidst the intensity, she made headlines off the court too, announcing her engagement to actor Andrea Preti, who watched her compete at tour level for the first time just a day prior. But Venus, ever the competitor, had her eyes on the road ahead. “There are so many learnings from here,” she noted. “I know exactly what I need to work on, where I can improve.”

Still, her wit remained sharp. “The important part is to put the ball in,” she quipped with a smile.

Now, with the Cincinnati Open 2025 on the horizon, expectations rise again. If there’s one thing we know, it’s never wise to count Venus out. She’s not chasing time. She’s shaping it, one swing at a time.