This was not a one-stop hello-and-farewell appearance for the 45-year-old Venus Williams, who had been away from the tour for 16 months before showing up in Washington and winning once each in singles and doubles.

The comments by the tennis great draw attention to the broader crisis of health care affordability and medical debt.

Venus Williams’ winning return to the professional tennis tour also came with a surprise announcement: She is engaged.

The only older woman to win a tour-level singles match was Martina Navratilova, whose last triumph came at 47 in 2004.

Venus Williams is officially off the market. The 45-year-old tennis legend confirmed her engagement to Italian actor Andrea Preti ( Temptation and My Beloved Enemy) during a post-match interview Tuesday night (July 22) after securing a historic victory at the DC Open.

The 45-year-old, who lost in the second round Thursday at the DC Open in her return to tennis, has never looked happier after a loss.

MASON, Ohio — Venus Williams’ return to professional tennis will not just be a one-tournament visit: She was awarded a wild-card entry for the Cincinnati Open. The 45-year-old Williams is participating in her first event in more than a year at the DC Open and won first-round matches in both singles and doubles.