NEW YORK -- Nineteen years ago, Venus Ebony Starr Williams wandered into her first US Open draw and, at the age of 17, managed to reach the final. She lost there to a 16-year-old kid named Martina Hingis.
But while Hingis would retire from singles after the 2007 season, Williams kept on going. And going.
Tuesday afternoon, at the age of 36, when she stepped onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, there was a leap into tennis history. It was Venus' 72nd appearance in a Grand Slam singles main draw, which surpassed the Open era record of fellow American Amy Frazier.