WASHINGTON — Competing at a match for the primary time in additional than a 12 months, and in doubles for the primary time in almost three, Venus Williams hit an enormous serve on her preliminary supply on the DC Open on Monday and, curiously, it was worn out by a foot-fault name.
The 45-year-old Williams, an proprietor of 21 Grand Slam titles throughout singles and doubles, smiled incredulously, as did the opposite three gamers concerned within the match in entrance of a full crowd that finally included NBA star Kevin Durant. After which Williams carried on, displaying her trademark energy on some strokes and lacking others whereas teaming with Hailey Baptiste for a 6-3, 6-1 victory in opposition to 2014 Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue.
“My private aim is to have enjoyable I believe proper now, and benefit from the second, not put an excessive amount of strain on myself,” Williams mentioned Sunday as she ready to return to motion for the primary time because the Miami Open in March 2024. “In fact I like profitable. I need to win. However greater than something, I simply need to get the most effective out of myself. If I can try this, then I will be high quality.”
She did each — profitable, sure, and contributing loads to the trigger, but in addition having an excellent time, high-fiving or fist-bumping Baptiste after a few of their finest factors, laughing after others and waving to an appreciative crowd that roared time and again for Williams. She and Baptiste hugged when it ended.
It was full at 3,000-seat John Harris Court docket, the place Durant confirmed up late within the first set, whereas throughout the best way on the 7,500-capacity primary stadium, only some dozen spectators have been scattered within the seats for an all-American singles match involving Reilly Opelka in opposition to Murphy Cassone.
Requested to remark concerning the court docket assignments, match director Daniel Vallverdú mentioned: “The match works to stability full singles and doubles ATP and WTA schedules, whereas coordinating with broadcaster requests for court docket assignments.”
When Williams, sporting a white visor as she so typically did, was launched earlier than taking part in doubles for the primary time because the 2022 U.S. Open — when her companion was youthful sister Serena — the stadium announcer talked about that Venus has “probably the greatest serves within the historical past of the sport,” that she “turned professional within the final century” and “has gained every little thing.”
That features seven main singles trophies — 5 at Wimbledon, two on the U.S. Open — and an extra 14 in doubles with Serena, plus 4 Olympic gold medals.
“She’s probably the greatest athletes of all time. Her and her sister, they are not solely nice for the ladies’s sport, not solely nice for ladies’s sports activities, however they’re so iconic,” mentioned Frances Tiafoe, a two-time U.S. Open semifinalist whose twin brother, Franklin, is a coach for Baptiste. “Individuals are going to go loopy to see her.”
They positive did Monday, standing with cellphone cameras raised excessive when Venus first appeared on the court docket.
There might be different alternatives to see her this week: In singles, Williams is about to face Peyton Stearns, a 23-year-old American presently ranked No. 35 who gained NCAA singles and crew championships on the College of Texas.
“I used to be stunned to see her within the draw this week,” mentioned Emma Navarro, a U.S. Open semifinalist a 12 months in the past and seeded No. 2 in Washington. “She’s clearly a legend of the sport. I noticed a video on Instagram of her hitting out right here on the observe courts — that backhand, you possibly can’t miss. Good for her. She’s sticking with it at her age.”
Williams’ lengthy absence from tennis was undesirable: She spoke in an interview with NBC earlier this month about having a process to take away fibroids from her uterus.
“My well being journey was very scary,” she mentioned Sunday. “This time a 12 months in the past I used to be getting ready to go to surgical procedure. There was no manner for me to play tennis or play the U.S. Open — or these issues weren’t even on my thoughts. I used to be simply attempting to get wholesome. … Issues actually change in a 12 months. They actually do.”