Venus Williams won her first professional tennis title in the last century. She was only 14. As that century turned to ours, she proved herself able to make the 21st century hers at Wimbledon. Her 20th birthday had just passed. 
At 45, she is aiming for her 50th singles title and her 23rd in doubles. Only recently she advanced in draws at the Washington Open, better known to the tennis connoisseur as the Mubadala Citi Open, at least until other sponsors get their turn.
Washington is a good tennis town, even if Wimbledon’s daunting presence across the pond ensures it’s never the best. The presence at the Fitzgerald Tennis Center of the most successful American player in recent decades was a thrill, but even with her sister Serena by her side, it was hardly a surprise. 
Richmond’s Arthur Ashe, a promoter of youth tennis tournaments, brought the sport to Washington with a zeal that paid off through the 1960s and 70s. A network of free public tennis courts mark his legacy, though the best players keep the private courts of Georgetown and St. Albans. 
Free tennis passes are a public service, I suppose. Then again, are they not a case of subsidies interfering with a vigorous free economy? That is for sharper minds than mine to ponder, but I will note here that the ticket prices at the storied old tournament in Rock Creek Park have been soaring.  
Parking has followed the ticket’s surge in price. This column insists on the old fair-and-accurate, I’d evince my own bias were I to discuss my own views on ticket pricing of sporting events reflecting our cultural decline. For that reason, let us stay on point. 
An evening match several days ago at the Stadium saw Miss Williams roll over Peyton Stearns, a 23-year-old Texas gal hailing from Ohio. 7,500 seats, almost all taken, roared their support. Miss Williams hit clear winners to the same roars and cheers that mocked Miss Stearns when she put one in the net or out of bounds.
When Miss Stearns did the same, the cheers and appla...