Tennis legend Venus Williams is making a powerful comeback to the WTA Tour after a 16 month break. The seven time Grand Slam singles champion has been named in the main draw of the 2025 DC Open, marking her first competitive appearance since March 2024.
The 45 year old icon is set to face fellow American Peyton Stearns in the opening round of the singles draw. This is Venus&rsquo;s second appearance at the Washington based tournament, after a brief outing in 2022 that ended in the first round. However, fans are hopeful this year will see a different result.
Williams is also scheduled to compete in the women&rsquo;s doubles event alongside her fellow partner Hailey Baptiste, adding more excitement to the tournament&rsquo;s lineup.
The DC Open, a key event on the WTA 500 North American summer hard court swing, has drawn a strong field of 28 women, including five Grand Slam champions. Leading the pack is World No. 4 Jessica Pegula, the top seed and 2019 Washington title winner.
Venus Williams is placed in the second quarter of the draw, which includes No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion. If Venus advances, she could potentially meet Rybakina in the next round, making for a thrilling matchup.
Other key highlights from the draw include:
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No. 2 seed Emma Navarro facing either Maria Sakkari or Katie Boulter
</li>
<li data-start="1565" data-end="1629">
Naomi Osaka meeting Yulia Putintseva in a high stakes opener
</li>
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2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu playing Marta Kostyuk
</li>
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An all American clash between Hailey Baptiste and Sofia Kenin
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</ul>
Venus&rsquo;s return adds prestige and nostalgia to an already competitive field. Her participation is not just a testament to longevity in sports but also an inspiration to generations of tennis fans and young athletes.

Venus Williams Returns to Tennis at DC Open 2025

After a 16-month break, Williams is back on court, set to compete in singles & doubles

Venus Williams Returns to Tennis at DC Open 2025

After a 16-month break, Williams is back on court, set to compete in singles & doubles

July 20, 2025 | 18:18 IST