Venus Williams becomes oldest WTA match-winner since 2004
Having returned to competitive action on Monday in the women's doubles following a 16-month absence from the game, Williams defeated world number 35 Stearns to claim her first singles win since 2023 in Cincinnati.
The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion is the oldest WTA singles match-winner since a 47-year-old Martina Navratilova won at Wimbledon in 2004.
"I think I just attacked the whole time. It's just trying to find the right balance between going to hard and not enough," Williams said after the opening-round win.
"It's the same because this is what I do, but at the same time, at the time it was imperative for me to do it. Now I don't have to do this, but I have the same fire and the same want to win.
"In some ways, I'm still getting back into that. When you do it everyday, everything is natural. Not as natural feeling now, but I hope I can get back to that."
Williams will next face Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech.
"I think it was a big win for me today. Like I said, it's not easy. It won't be easy. It's not easy for anyone out here," Williams said.
"So I know I'll have to fight for every match, but I'm up for that."
Emma Raducanu was among the big names that progressed after the 2021 US Open champion beat Ukrainian seventh seed Marta Kostyuk 7-6(4) 6-4 in her opener. The 22-year-old Briton will next face four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
"I think it's a great match for a lot of spectators, which is great to be a part of," Raducanu told reporters. "She's been playing really good tennis this year. Yeah, it will be a great test of my own game and myself."
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