<p>Venus Williams said she still has fire in her belly after the 45-year-old became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 with her 6-3 6-4 victory over Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open on Tuesday.</p><p>Having returned to competitive action on Monday in the women's doubles following a 16-month absence from the game, Williams defeated world number 35 Stearns to claim her first singles win since 2023 in Cincinnati.</p><p>The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion is the oldest WTA singles match-winner since a 47-year-old Martina Navratilova won at Wimbledon in 2004.</p><p>"I think I just attacked the whole time. It's just trying to find the right balance between going to hard and not enough," Williams said after the opening-round win.</p>.Sinner vs Alcaraz: Brewing new rivalry as Big Three fade away. <p>"It's the same because this is what I do, but at the same time, at the time it was imperative for me to do it. Now I don't have to do this, but I have the same fire and the same want to win.</p><p>"In some ways, I'm still getting back into that. When you do it everyday, everything is natural. Not as natural feeling now, but I hope I can get back to that."</p><p>Williams will next face Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech.</p><p>"I think it was a big win for me today. Like I said, it's not easy. It won't be easy. It's not easy for anyone out here," Williams said.</p><p>"So I know I'll have to fight for every match, but I'm up for that."</p><p>Emma Raducanu was among the big names that progressed after the 2021 U.S. Open champion beat Ukrainian seventh seed Marta Kostyuk 7-6(4) 6-4 in her opener. The 22-year-old Briton will next face four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.</p><p>"I think it's a great match for a lot of spectators, which is great to be a part of," Raducanu told reporters. "She's been playing really good tennis this year. Yeah, it will be a great test of my own game and myself."</p>
<p>Venus Williams said she still has fire in her belly after the 45-year-old became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 with her 6-3 6-4 victory over Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open on Tuesday.</p><p>Having returned to competitive action on Monday in the women's doubles following a 16-month absence from the game, Williams defeated world number 35 Stearns to claim her first singles win since 2023 in Cincinnati.</p><p>The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion is the oldest WTA singles match-winner since a 47-year-old Martina Navratilova won at Wimbledon in 2004.</p><p>"I think I just attacked the whole time. It's just trying to find the right balance between going to hard and not enough," Williams said after the opening-round win.</p>.Sinner vs Alcaraz: Brewing new rivalry as Big Three fade away. <p>"It's the same because this is what I do, but at the same time, at the time it was imperative for me to do it. Now I don't have to do this, but I have the same fire and the same want to win.</p><p>"In some ways, I'm still getting back into that. When you do it everyday, everything is natural. Not as natural feeling now, but I hope I can get back to that."</p><p>Williams will next face Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech.</p><p>"I think it was a big win for me today. Like I said, it's not easy. It won't be easy. It's not easy for anyone out here," Williams said.</p><p>"So I know I'll have to fight for every match, but I'm up for that."</p><p>Emma Raducanu was among the big names that progressed after the 2021 U.S. Open champion beat Ukrainian seventh seed Marta Kostyuk 7-6(4) 6-4 in her opener. The 22-year-old Briton will next face four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.</p><p>"I think it's a great match for a lot of spectators, which is great to be a part of," Raducanu told reporters. "She's been playing really good tennis this year. Yeah, it will be a great test of my own game and myself."</p>