Star Kevin Durant cheered on Venus Williams and Hailey Baptiste during their doubles match at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open.

Venus Williams has competed at a tournament for the first time in more than a year — and in doubles for the first time in nearly three — and has come out with a victory.

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

The younger Williams last played at the 2022 U.S. Open, which was her swan song as she revealed she was "evolving" from tennis—essentially retiring. However, Williams recently posted a video of herself hitting tennis balls on a court to social media, causing fans to wonder whether she was teasing a return to the sport in some way.

Venus Williams is paired with Reilly Opelka, and Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova is joined by Holger Rune on Monday's updated list of teams that have signed up to try to enter the newfangled U.S.

Volunteer ball kids, many of whom are aspiring athletes themselves, are getting the chance of a lifetime, with access to top tennis stars, including Venus Willams.

Seven-time major champion Venus Williams returns to the D.C. Open surrounded by family, history and a lasting connection to the game she helped shape.