Venus Williams and Stan Wawrinka make history with 45 year first

In an extraordinary week for tennis, two of the sport’s most iconic veterans reminded the world that age is just a number.

Venus Williams, 45, and Stan Wawrinka, 40, both secured first-round victories at ATP and WTA Tour events, becoming the first male and female players over the age of 40 to win main-draw matches in the same week since tennis legends Ken Rosewall and Renee Richards did so back in October 1979.

Williams, competing in her first WTA match since the 2024 Miami Open, rolled back the years with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 win over world number 35 Peyton Stearns at the DC Open on Tuesday.

The victory not only silenced critics but also made her the oldest player to win a WTA match since Martina Navrátilová triumphed in 2004 at the age of 47.

Williams’ serve proved to be a decisive weapon. Despite landing just 54% of her first serves, she won a commanding 71% of those points, firing 9 aces and keeping Stearns on the back foot. Her 15.8% ace rate stood in stark contrast to Stearns’ 4.3%, reflecting the gap in serve dominance. The veteran also outpaced her opponent in serve rating, 225 to 174, and held 60% of her service games compared to Stearns’ 33%.

However, it was on return where Williams made the biggest impact. She won 56% of all return points, breaking Stearns six times from 14 opportunities. While Stearns did well to save eight break points, Williams was relentless, converting six and winning 67% of her return games. Her second-serve return was especially punishing; she won a staggering 70% of those points.

Stearns had moments of resistance, winning four break points of her own and even stringing together a match-best 10 points in a row at one stage. However, her struggles on second serve (30% won) and a total game win rate of just 37% left her playing catch-up throughout. Despite saving five match points and winning 60% of pressure points, the younger American couldn’t capitalise in key moments.

Williams, on the other hand, won more total points (70 to 57), more return games (6 to 4), and strung together four consecutive games at her best stretch. While neither player was immune to inconsistency, with both hitting four double faults, Williams’ ability to dictate play from the baseline and dominate the return proved to be the difference.

Meanwhile, over 4,700 miles away at the Croatia Open Umag, 2015 French Open champion Stan Wawrinka proved he, too, still has plenty left in the tank. The Swiss star dispatched Ecuador’s Alvaro Guillen Meza 6-4, 6-1, extending his remarkable longevity on tour.

With that win, Wawrinka matched an ATP Tour milestone previously achieved by another tennis great: Jimmy Connors.

According to OptaAce, it’s the first time in 45 years that two players aged over 40 have won ATP and WTA main-draw matches in the same week.

In 1979, Renée Richards beat Sylvia Hanika in Phoenix, while Ken Rosewall recorded multiple wins before falling to Phil Dent in the same tournament.

The last few years have seen both players deal with injuries and setbacks. Yet their persistence, love for the sport, and sheer willpower continue to deliver magical moments. While younger stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominate headlines, this week belonged to the legends.

As the summer hardcourt season heats up, the tennis world finds itself captivated by two stories of longevity, grit, and heart.

In the meantime, while the records may be historic, for Williams and Wawrinka, it’s not about rewriting the past; it is about proving they still belong in the present.