"I hope she keeps going like this," Navratilova praises Venus Williams after her victory in Washington

Unstoppable Venus Williams! At 45 years old, the American champion is still competing, and after more than a year without playing a match on the WTA tour, she won her first-round match at the WTA 500 tournament in Washington.

Facing Peyton Stearns, the world No. 35 and a semifinalist at the WTA 1000 in Rome earlier this season, Williams—who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles in her career—delivered an excellent performance to defeat her compatriot (6-3, 6-4).

With this match, Venus Williams became the oldest player to win a WTA tour match since Martina Navratilova, who was 47 when she won her first-round match at Wimbledon in 2004 against Catalina Castaño (6-0, 6-1).

Navratilova herself spoke out after the former world No. 1’s impressive victory in the American capital earlier this week against Stearns, expressing hope that Williams will continue on this path.

"What can you say, except that it’s incredible? She beat a top player, the world No. 35. Hats off. Obviously, with Venus [Williams], we both inherited good genetics—the fast-twitch fibers are still working just fine.

She understands the game perfectly. She knows how to play, she’s mentally ready. We have a lot in common in that regard. She’s focused, determined, never says ‘no.’ It just shows how much Venus loves this sport.

Hope, perseverance—she never gives up. Follow your own path. If you’re on a path you want to take and you love it, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose, no matter the result.

I believe Venus loves all of that, and of course, stepping onto the court too. I hope she keeps going like this," Navratilova told the WTA’s official website in recent hours.

Next up for Venus Williams in her Washington run is a round-of-16 match against Magdalena Frech, scheduled for late Thursday into Friday, which could set up a quarterfinal clash with Elena Rybakina.