Just weeks after becoming the oldest woman to win a singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004, Williams will have a chance to make even more history at the U.S. Open<\/a> after earning a wild-card invitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Williams will also compete in mixed doubles with Reilly Opelka later this month.\u00a0 (IMAGN)<\/p>\n The 45-year-old tennis great enters the final Grand Slam of the calendar year as the oldest singles competitor since 1981 \u2014 a milestone previously set by Renee Richards, who was 47. It also comes two years after her last appearance in New York, where she exited following a first-round loss.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON<\/a> <\/a>FOXNEWS.COM<\/a><\/p>\n Williams began her comeback last month when she competed in the D.C. Open<\/a>. She defeated fellow American Peyton Stearns in straight sets to advance to the second round, winning her first match 16 months after her last professional competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It is not easy to come off after all that time and play the perfect match and all the players in the WTA are playing amazing. Peyton played so well. I felt like I was trying to slow myself down. We were going faster and faster and faster,” Williams said after the 6-3, 6-4 victory.<\/p>\n Venus Williams hits a forehand against Peyton Stearns (not pictured) in a women’s singles match on day two of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center on July 22, 2025. (Geoff Burke\/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n TENNIS GREAT VENUS WILLIAMS WINS DC OPEN MATCH FOR FIRST SINGLES VICTORY SINCE 2023<\/a><\/p>\n “It\u2019s just about putting it all together. You can still play a good match and lose the match. I wanted to play a good match and win the match. It\u2019s so rewarding to come back after layoff and injuries, and you know, I didn\u2019t have to come back to play as well.”\u00a0<\/p>\n She went on to compete in the Cincinnati Open last week on another wild-card invitation, exiting after a first-round loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n Venus Williams celebrates after match point against Peyton Stearns (not pictured) in a women’s singles match on day two of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center on July 22, 2025.\u00a0 (Geoff Burke\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n ,CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n In addition to her singles entry, Williams will also compete in mixed doubles with Reilly Opelka later this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Associated Press contributed to this report.\u00a0<\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s sports coverage on X<\/a>, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n ![\"Venus](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/venus-williams.jpg\")
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