Seven-time Grand Slam single champion Venus Williams returned to competitive tennis after a 16-month hiatus on Monday with a doubles victory at the WTA and ATP DC Open.
The 45-year-old American joined compatriot Hailey Baptiste to defeat Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and US teen Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1 in a first-round match.
"After the match Hailey asked me, 'How did that feel?' It's probably even harder to play the doubles first because I'm not a doubles player," Williams said.
"So it's great to have her to kind of hold the team up. She has had the experience. She served first because she has been playing all year and playing well. I think that helped me a lot.
"I think also just to get the feel for the ball. Obviously singles I have a little more experience even though doubles I have had some great results.
"It's just nice to be able to play. Where I am at this year is so much different where I was at last year. It's night and day, being able to be here and prepare for the tournament as opposed to preparing for surgery year ago."
Williams makes her return to singles on Tuesday in the main court night feature match against American Peyton Stearns.
A crowd of about 3,000 spectators watched the doubles match, including NBA star Kevin Durant, who is from Washington.
"We were both so focused and after the match, I was, like, 'Did you see Kevin Durant walk in?' She was, like, 'Yeah,'" Williams said.
Fans chanting "K-D" made it tough for Baptiste to focus but she was happy to have a famous fan in the stands.
"It's sick that he came out to support us," she said. "It's really cool." "I was, like, 'I want to show KD what I can do. Hit the ball to me,'" Williams said. "They hit every ball to you. I was, like, OK, whatever. However we win is fine."
