What Martina Hingis said was ‘very dangerous’ about Venus Williams after beating her in the 1997 US Open final

Venus Williams has made a stunning return to the WTA Tour, winning her first match back after a 16-month break.

Williams answered her critics when she took on fellow American Peyton Stearns in the first round of the Washington Open.

The legendary figure secured a 6-3, 6-4 victory, with 45-year-old Williams proving that age really is just a number.

Williams surprised Stearns in their highly anticipated clash, in which the WTA number 35 lost to the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion.

The former did, however, have a losing start to her Grand Slam finals career, suffering defeat in the 1997 US Open final to Martina Hingis.

Venus Williams celebrates after winning a women's single match against Peyton Stearns. — Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

What Martina Hingis said about Venus Williams after their 1997 US Open final

Hingis, aged 16, and Williams, aged 17, represented the youngest finalists in a Grand Slam final in the Open Era.

And it was the younger of the duo who emerged victorious, with the Swiss superstar defeating her American counterpart 6-0, 6-4.

Speaking after the match, the champion spoke highly of the runner-up, saying: “You can’t allow her to make her game.

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“She has very powerful groundstrokes. If she’s going to let you run left-right all the time, especially her backhand is very dangerous.

“I’m pretty much known that I’m having a good return. So my serve is not a big weapon I have in my game. I have to have something else. That’s my return.

Venus Williams at the US Open in 1997. — Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images

“I also think mostly she’s trying to serve to my forehand. I just know the ball, if it’s going to be important, she’s going to try to serve there.

“You know, she maybe didn’t serve as hard as against the other players. Just was trying to keep the ball in the game. You know, I always had the chance to play it back.”

What is Venus Williams’ stunning Grand Slam singles finals record?

All eyes were on Hingis in New York back then, with the top seed having been the world number one at the time.

Fellow rising star Williams, in contrast, was ranked 66th in the world entering the final Grand Slam of the year.

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1997	US Open	Hard	Martina Hingis	0–6, 4–6
Win	2000	Wimbledon	Grass	Lindsay Davenport	6–3, 7–6^(7–3)
Win	2000	US Open	Hard	Lindsay Davenport	6–4, 7–5
Win	2001	Wimbledon	Grass	Justine Henin	6–1, 3–6, 6–0
Win	2001	US Open	Hard	Serena Williams	6–2, 6–4
Loss	2002	French Open	Clay	Serena Williams	5–7, 3–6
Loss	2002	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	6–7^(4–7), 3–6
Loss	2002	US Open	Hard	Serena Williams	4–6, 3–6
Loss	2003	Australian Open	Hard	Serena Williams	6–7^(4–7), 6–3, 4–6
Loss	2003	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	6–4, 4–6, 2–6
Win	2005	Wimbledon	Grass	Lindsay Davenport	4–6, 7–6^(7–4), 9–7
Win	2007	Wimbledon	Grass	Marion Bartoli	6–4, 6–1
Win	2008	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	7–5, 6–4
Loss	2009	Wimbledon	Grass	Serena Williams	6–7^(3–7), 2–6
Loss	2017	Australian Open	Hard	Serena Williams	4–6, 4–6
Loss	2017	Wimbledon	Grass	Garbine Muguruza	5–7, 0–6

Venus Williams Grand Slam singles finals

It’s fair to say she shook off that loss in spectacular fashion, going on to win seven Grand Slam singles titles.

Williams also lost nine such finals in her glittering career, which has now been revived at the Washington Open.

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What Martina Hingis said was ‘very dangerous’ about Venus Williams after beating her in the 1997 US Open final

What Martina Hingis said about Venus Williams after their 1997 US Open final

What is Venus Williams’ stunning Grand Slam singles finals record?