Venus Williams wins at Washington Open on return to court alongside Hailey Baptiste in women's doubles - 'I love this game'
By Lewis Mason
Published 22/07/2025 at 08:48 GMT+1
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March 2024 had been the last time Venus Williams stepped onto court in a competitive, tour-level match. That ended in defeat at the Miami Open but after 16 months away, she returned to winning ways with victory alongside Hailey Baptiste at the Washington Open. Williams was not the only player forming a new doubles bond, with Emma Raducanu also in action with a new partner, Elena Rybakina.
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Video credit: SNTV
Venus Williams made a winning return to court as she played her first tour-level match in 16 months.
She teamed up with fellow American Hailey Baptiste to beat Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3 6-1 in the first round of the women’s doubles at the Washington Open.
Williams, who turned 45 in June, accepted a wildcard for the tournament and will kick off her singles campaign against Peyton Stearns in round one.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion had been expected to play at Indian Wells earlier this year - with the event announcing her as a wildcard - only for her to confirm she was not playing after all.
Speaking to Sky Sports after her first official match since March 2024 - when she played at the Miami Open - Williams said: "It was inspiring to be out here.
"I love this game and still hitting it big."
Williams has 14 major women’s doubles titles in her trophy cabinet after playing alongside her sister, Serena, for so many years.
She has now found a special bond with Baptiste, but fears it could be a little too late.
"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."
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Another intriguing duo in Washington is British No.1 Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina.
They overcame a difficult start to their campaign to beat number four seeds Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls in their opening match.
Raducanu and Rybakina were broken three times as they lost the first five games of the first set, before fighting back to win the match 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 11-9.
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