There are plenty of reasons why this particular victory by Venus Williams in this particular tennis match resonates with so many folks. That she’s 45, for one thing. Only one woman,

Tennis legend Venus Williams is back. The 45-year-old former world No. 1 player won her first singles match in nearly two years, defeating the world No. 35 Peyton Stearns, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the second round of the DC Open.

Venus Williams became the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis, delivering some of her familiar big serves and groundstrokes at age 45 while beating Peyton Stearns — 22 years her junior — by a 6-3, 6-4 score at the DC Open on Tuesday night.