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.

WASHINGTON — Venus Williams took the Mubadala Citi DC Open by storm.

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

Venus Williams has a lot to celebrate. The 45-year-old tennis great Venus Williams revealed she is engaged to actor Andrea Preti on July 22 after playing her first singles match in more than a year. Williams bested fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3,

Venus Williams enjoyed a winning return to competitive tennis after 16 months away as she reached the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles at the DC Open alongside Hailey Baptiste.

On July 22, Venus Williams confirmed her engagement to model and actor Andrea Preti. “My fiancé is here, and he really encouraged me to keep playing,” Williams said in a post-match interview yesterday.

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.