Mason, Ohio — Venus Williams’ professional tennis return is more than just a single tennis visit. She was awarded a wildcard entry at the Cincinnati Open next month on Wednesday.
Williams, 45, took part in his first event for over a year at the DC Open this week, winning first round matches in both singles and doubles.
A 6-3, 6-4 win over 23-year-old Payton Stearns on Tuesday night, making Williams the second oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match. Martina Navratilova was 47 years old when she won her last singles victory in 2004.
Williams won five Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon and two at the US Open. Plus, she has two doubles with her younger sister Serena and two doubles.
She will play Polish Magdalena Fretsch in Washington on Thursday.
The Cincinnati Open will begin on August 5th and will be a hard court tune-up from the US Open.
Kathy McNally, the only player to take Wimbledon champion Iga Swiecsk, was also awarded a Cincinnati wild card on Wednesday.
