The 45-year-old had been away from the tour for 16 months before showing up in Washington this week and winning once each in singles and doubles.

Williams could not overcome 27-year-old Magdalena Frech, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round of the tournament on Thursday, July 24. Williams has not won back-to-back matches since 2019. Venus Williams and Hailey Baptiste won their first-round match in doubles play on Monday, but the duo fell short of reaching the third round.

Britain's Emma Raducana is through to the quarter-finals of the Washington Open after beating Naomi Osaka in straight sets but Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Venus Williams lose.

On July 22, following her first singles match in more than a year, Williams revealed that she is engaged to actor and former model Andre Preti. While speaking to WTA following her DC Open singles match, the tennis star, who sported a diamond ring on her left finger, called Preti her fiancé.

Venus Williams, days after becoming the oldest player to win a WTA Tour singles match in 21 years, lost in the second round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open on Thursday in Washington.