Venus Williams' return to the WTA Tour ended in a one-sided defeat to Magdalena Frech in Washington, but the 45-year-old was keen to focus on the positives after an impressive week

SportsLine tennis expert Blake Von Hagen reveals his 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open picks for Thursday's women's second-round match between Magdalena Frech and Venus Williams

In tennis, players win some and lose some. Some days the ball flies off the racket and they can’t miss. Some days, the ball keeps clanking off the frame. After a career that has lasted 30-plus years and is still going,

WASHINGTON, DC—Venus Williams’ first tournament in 16 months ended on Thursday, the former world No. 1 exiting, 6-2, 6-2 to Magdalena Freçh in the second round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open.

WASHINGTON — After Venus Williams' four-matches-in-four-days return to professional tennis was over, after she was loudly feted by appreciative fans even after a loss in singles, the D.C. Open stadium announcer offered a thought: "We're never going to say goodbye to Venus Williams, are we?" he said.

Venus Williams insists she will come back stronger after her straight-sets defeat to Magdalena Frech

Williams, who beat Peyton Stearns earlier in the week to become the oldest winner of a WTA Tour-level match in over 20 years, could not replicate that magic against Frech on Thursday

Venus Williams admitted she simply didn't have enough in the tank to compete against Magdalena Frech but also noted that she was "grateful" with how her comeback week in Washington went. On Thursday night in Washington, 27-year-old Frech needed just an hour and 13 minutes to beat the 45-year-old American 6-2 6-2.

Venus Williams’ bid for her first winning streak since 2019 ended with a 6-2, 6-2 loss to 24th-ranked Magdalena Frech at the D.C. Open on Thursday night.