Venus Williams defeated Peyton Stearns, who is 22 years her junior, 6-3, 6-4 at the DC Open on Tuesday night, showcasing some of her signature large serves and groundstrokes, making her the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis.
It was Williams’ first singles win in almost two years. In 2004, at the age of 47, Martina Navratilova became the only older woman to win a match. The fifth-seeded Magdalena Frech of Poland will be the next opponent for the unranked seven-time former grand slam singles winner.
Evans chose to play doubles with Andy Murray at the Olympics in the Scot’s final year, which prevented him from defending the biggest trophy of his career, which he had won in the American capital two years prior.
After Emma Raducanu defeated seventh seed Marta Kostyuk in straight sets to start her preparation for next month’s US Open, Evans’ triumph capped an incredible day for the British players.
Raducanu defeated the Ukrainian world number 27 7-6 (4) 6-4 in a grueling singles match, her first since defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon.
Raducanu is one win away from returning to the British number one spot after Katie Boulter lost in the opening round, but he will need to defeat Naomi Osaka, another former grand slam champion, to do it.
To secure his spot in the round of 16, Cameron Norrie defeated Lorenzo Musetti, the second seed and seventh-ranked player in the world, in a thrilling victory.
Cameron Norrie, meanwhile, secured his spot in the round of 16 with a noteworthy victory over Lorenzo Musetti, the second seed and seventh-ranked player in the world.
