Venus Williams rolled back the years to produce a brilliant display as she eliminated fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 to reach the round of 16 of the DC Open.

She was a warded a wild card to the Cincinnati Open. Making her first WTA 1000 appearance since the 2024 Miami Open, Williams will face Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (No. 51) in the first round.

Williams, 45, becomes the oldest player to win a singles match on the WTA Tour since Martina Navratilova won in the first round of Wimbledon in 2004 aged 47.