SportsLine tennis expert Blake Von Hagen reveals his 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open picks for Tuesday's women's first-round match between Peyton Stearns and Venus Williams

American tennis player Peyton Stearns is one of the rising stars on tour. Here's what to know about her family, coach, career and more.

Venus Williams just came back from a 16-month break from professional tennis. But she didn’t return because she missed playing — rather, she missed her health insurance. “I had to come back for the insurance,” Williams, 45, said this week after beating Peyton Stearns — 22 years her junior — at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C.

Tennis Legend, 45, Reveals the Real Reason She Returned to Competition: 'I'm Always at the Doctor' first appeared on Parade on Jul 24, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.

Venus Williams made a stunning return to the WTA Tour in Washington. Competing for the first time since March 2024, the 45-year-old stunned world no. 35 Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 in under 100 minutes.

Venus Williams won her first match on the WTA Tour in 709 days on Tuesday night, and the tennis legend joked that she came back for one reason.

Eight of the nine announced players are ranked in the top 50 of the current Women's Tennis Association rankings.

Venus Williams will be back on the court at the Washington Open, where she’s been drawn against fellow American Peyton Stearns in the opening round. Williams hasn’t played since March 2024, when she took part in both legs of the ‘Sunshine Double’.