Venus Williams makes a winning return to action at the age of 45
She and fellow American Baptiste proved too strong for Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue as they triumphed 6-3 6-1 in a last-16 encounter that lasted 72 minutes.
She's back 🤩
The one and only @Venuseswilliams returns to court.#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/Sv6jO8qDu5
— wta (@WTA) July 21, 2025
Her comeback will continue as she takes on another American in Peyton Stearns in the first round of the singles. It is Williams' first appearances in a WTA Tour event since March 2024.
'It was great to come out here and see the energy,' Williams said on Sky Sports after the match. 'As we were walking out to the court, we knew this was going to be a match.
'Our opponents actually played very well. It wasn't easy for us but we brought it together quickly as a team. It was inspiring to be out here. I love this game and still hitting it big.'
Williams joked she wished she could have partnered with Baptiste, the 23-year-old world number 50, years earlier rather than playing with her sister Serena.
She said: 'I think from the first point, I could see that we were going to be a good team. We just should have started playing earlier, years ago, right? I think Serena was just in the way!'
Britain's Emma Raducanu scored an eye-catching win on her doubles debut alongside former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Competing together for the first time, the duo fought back from an early deficit to beat fourth seeds Tereza Mihalikova and Britain's Olivia Nicholls 2-6 7-6 (4) 11-9 in a decisive tie-break set.
It was a notable win for Raducanu and Rybakina against opponents who triumphed at the Berlin Open last month and also reached the final at Indian Wells earlier this year.
Look at what it means!!! ❤️🔥
2023 champion Dan Evans digs deep to overcome Bergs 3-6 6-4 6-3 to progress in Washington. @mubadalacitidc | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/BBnWEPu1dA
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 21, 2025
British number one Katie Boulter fell at the first hurdle in the singles as she went out 3-6 4-6 to Greece's Maria Sakkari.
Boulter lost her opening service game in each set and was never able to regain the initiative.
Earlier, former men's singles champion Dan Evans enjoyed a triumphant return to the tournament as he came from behind to beat Zizou Bergs.
Evans, the veteran former British number one, triumphed in 2023 but opted not to defend his title last year as he focused on the Olympics.
The 35-year-old was awarded a wildcard to participate this time and took advantage as he overcame a slow start to beat the Belgian Bergs, the world number 52, 3-6 6-4 6-3.
Bergs looked to have resisted the fightback when he edged back ahead with a break in the final set but Evans powered back to secure victory by winning four successive games.
'I didn't just want to take the wildcard and lose,' Evans said on Sky Sports. 'I felt I needed to pay them back a bit and try to 'defend' my title, because I couldn't last year.
'It was great, really enjoyed it, but it was rally difficult. There wasn't much rhythm. He played very well and I was lucky to come through that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Martin Johnson inspires Lions ahead of crucial second Test against Australia
The British and Irish Lions will stage their attempt to close out a series victory over Australia inspired by the words of Martin Johnson. Johnson presented the jerseys to Andy Farrell's team as a surprise guest speaker at a special ceremony before dinner as part of the build-up to Saturday's second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The former England lock captained two Lions tours, overseeing a series triumph against South Africa in 1997 and a defeat to Australia four years later, and drew on his experience to outline what will be required against the Wallabies. 'Martin speaks nice and calmly. It was a privilege to have him there,' scrum coach John Fogarty said. 'He talked a bit about the Lions series they won and the Lions series they lost and the difference in both. 'The room was completely quiet for the whole time he spoke. There were guys just staring up at him. Maro asked him a question or two and then he handed out the jerseys. 'There was a bit of contemplation and reflection after he talked, which is a good thing. It was a quiet room because they wanted to listen to a guy they see as an icon.' The Lions seized a 1-0 lead in the series by outmuscling Australia 27-19 in Brisbane last Saturday, placing them just 80 minutes away from emulating Johnson's heroes of 1997. However, they are braced for a backlash from opponents who finished the opener strongly and who have been reinforced by the return of powerful forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini from injury. 'Martin said it is the smallest of margins in the biggest of games. He talked about being able to get back to neutral and talking about being in the moment,' Fogarty said. 'All that stuff is difficult when you're playing in front of 95,000 people in a stadium as iconic as the MCG. 'When you're under pressure or applying pressure your emotions can go up and down, so being able to get back to neutral or find a way to get clarity back in your mind in the shortest of times is difficult for players. 'That's really important for us in this game. We are not going to get everything our own way and we know it's going to be a game of small margins. So it was good advice.' The Lions have confirmed that Ewan Ashman, Gregor Brown, Rory Sutherland and Darcy Graham – all late call-ups from Scotland's tour of New Zealand brought in to help with Tuesday's fixture against the First Nations and Pasifika XV – have returned home.
Powys County Times
5 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Lions eye series victory against Australia- talking points ahead of second Test
The British and Irish Lions are aiming to complete their first series victory since 2013 when they clash with Australia in the second Test. Here, the PA news agency examines five talking points heading into their collision at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Lions move in for the kill A flawless record of seven wins since arriving Down Under has placed the Lions on the brink of an achievement that has only been managed twice before in the professional era. Successful Lions tours are the exception, not the rule, but they are overwhelming favourites to crush Australia for the second time. The persistent rain forecast to fall throughout Saturday could be a leveller, but on the strength of a one-sided first Test, Andy Farrell's men should be comfortable winners. We're ready for you Melbourne! 🔜🦁 #Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 25, 2025 Do or die for Australia The Wallabies are not just playing to keep the series alive, but also their credibility as a tour destination for the elite of British and Irish rugby. These are difficult times for Australian rugby and even though their precarious finances have been shored up by the Lions' visit, problems abound on and off the field. It is imperative that they take the series to a decider by rising to the occasion in Melbourne. If they lose again, calls for the Lions to instead turn their attention to the mouth-watering prospect of a tour to France will only grow louder. Down but not out For all their difficulties, Joe Schmidt's men are not without hope for their shot at levelling the series. They scored more points in the second-half at Suncorp Stadium where, unexpectedly, their bench made the greater impact. Reinforcing their assault on the Lions are the return of powerful forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, whose very presence after missing the first Test because of calf injuries should prevent their pack being bullied again. Valetini's ball carrying at the blindside flanker is a particularly important weapon. A rock in red! 💪🔴 #Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 24, 2025 Comeback king One of the most fascinating stories of the tour took another twist when Owen Farrell was named on the bench for the MCG clash. If he comes on, the former England captain will be making his first Test appearance in almost two years. Even after two quietly encouraging performances on tour, including a full 80 minutes on Tuesday when he proved his fitness following a season of injury setbacks, the involvement of Andy Farrell's son as a late call-up divides opinion, but so far his presence has only benefitted the squad. Stage set for Russell Much of the spotlight this week has fallen on Owen Farrell, allowing the Lions' real star to glide into the second Test relatively unnoticed. In Brisbane, Finn Russell was mesmerising at times during a first half when his passing repeatedly unlocked Australia's defence. Aided by a dominant pack and the generalship of scrum-half Jamison Gibson Park, the 32-year-old is functioning at the peak of his powers and has another opportunity to prove that on current form, he is the game's standout fly-half.
Scottish Sun
5 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘You ain't well man' – Rio Ferdinand screams at Wayne Rooney's driving as Man Utd stars reunite for US road trip
RIO FERDINAND screamed at Wayne Rooney's driving as the Manchester United legends reunited in the United States. The Red Devils' current crop have jetted across the pond for pre-season games against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton. 4 Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney went on a US road trip Credit: INEOS GRENADIER 4 Ferdinand, 46, looked terrified at Rooney's off-road driving Credit: INEOS GRENADIER To mark the occasion, United sent club legends Ferdinand and Rooney on a US road trip, captured on camera for Ineos Grenadier's YouTube channel. The idea was inspired by Rooney's infamous April 2011 tweet, in which he wrote, without directly addressing Ferdinand: "Hi rio do u want picking up in the morning pal." For the road trip, it was actually Ferdinand that picked up Rooney in Manchester, Michigan - with the pair making a 250-mile trip to Chicago. During the adventure, the pair stopped off for an off-road driving experience. The duo appeared to have a brilliant time, although Ferdinand looked terrified at one point. The former centre-back, 46, went first, laughing as Rooney said "Easy, easy" while sitting in the passenger seat. Ferdinand then asked "Do you want a go?" - to which Rooney replied: "I thought you'd never ask me." Worried about his pal's driving, Ferdinand said: "This is where it gets a bit sticky for me." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Rooney loved the off road driving experience Credit: INEOS GRENADIER As Rooney tore through the rough terrain, his former team-mate screamed and bellowed: "Aghh, Wazza! Woah, Jesus!" Laughing, Ferdinand added: "You ain't well man, oh mate." Wayne Rooney lands £800k deal to be Match of the Day pundit as he and wife Coleen become British TV's new power couple Giggling, Rooney said: "It's sick that, you know." To which Ferdinand replied: "My hands are sweating. I ain't doing that." Ferdinand quit his role on TNT Sports after last season's Champions League final in order to focus on his own content. Rooney, meanwhile, has landed a position potentially worth £800,000 to work as a pundit on Match of the Day - having not managed since being sacked by Plymouth Argyle on New Year's Eve. Manchester United began their pre-season schedule with a 0-0 draw against Leeds in Stockholm last weekend. Ruben Amorim's side will next be in action on Saturday night as they take on West Ham at MetLife Stadium.
