Venus Williams falls in straight sets at 26th US Open

Venus Williams' 26th US Open singles appearance came to an end in the early hours of Monday morning after the American was beaten in straight sets by fellow wild card Sofia Kenin.

The 46-year-old was defeated 6-2, 7-6 (6) at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a match that did not begin until 12:13 a.m., setting a new record for the latest start in US Open history. Williams struggled to find a way past Kenin in the opening set before pushing her younger opponent through a tight second-set tie-break.

Kenin takes control in opening set

Kenin established control early and took the first set 6-2. Williams, competing in her 26th US Open singles tournament, was unable to produce enough consistency to prevent her fellow American from building a commanding advantage.

The defeat continued a difficult run for the veteran, who has now lost 15 consecutive singles matches dating back to her last victory in Washington in July 2025.

Williams pushes Kenin in second set

The second set was a much closer contest as Williams fought to extend the match. Neither player could create enough separation to settle the set in regulation, sending it into a tie-break.

Kenin eventually held her nerve to win the tie-break 8-6, completing the straight-sets victory and ending Williams' singles campaign in New York. It was also Williams' sixth consecutive US Open singles defeat since her first-round victory at the tournament in 2019.

Record-breaking late start in New York

The unusual timing added another chapter to an already historic US Open appearance for Williams. The match was delayed by Novak Djokovic's four-hour and 36-minute defeat to Mariano Navone.

There was initially uncertainty over whether Williams and Kenin would be moved from Arthur Ashe Stadium to Louis Armstrong Stadium, but the preceding men's match ended in time for their contest to remain on Ashe.

The match eventually began at 12:13 a.m., surpassing the previous US Open record for the latest start. That mark had been set by Aryna Sabalenka against Ekaterina Alexandrova in 2024, when their match began six minutes earlier than Williams and Kenin's encounter.

Williams' future remains unclear

The defeat could potentially be Williams' final singles appearance at a Grand Slam, but the American was not prepared to discuss her future immediately after the match. Williams is scheduled to compete in doubles later in the week alongside her sister Serena.

Rather than looking beyond the tournament, Williams said her immediate focus was on recovering from the unusually late match and preparing for her next appearance. That leaves the question of whether she will continue her singles career unanswered for now.

Another US Open milestone for Venus

Williams' longevity at the US Open remains remarkable. Her latest appearance marked her 26th singles campaign at the tournament, adding another milestone to one of the sport's most enduring careers.

However, the result extended a difficult period in singles competition. With her doubles campaign still ahead, Williams has another opportunity to take to the court in New York alongside Serena before deciding what comes next.

Key Takeaways

• Venus Williams lost 6-2, 7-6 (6) to Sofia Kenin in the US Open first round.
• The defeat ended Williams' 26th US Open singles appearance.
• The match began at 12:13 a.m., setting a new US Open record for the latest start.
• Williams has now suffered 15 consecutive singles defeats.
• Her last singles victory came in Washington in July 2025.
• Williams has lost six consecutive US Open singles matches since 2019.
• She is due to compete in doubles with sister Serena later in the week.
• Williams has not yet decided whether she will continue her singles career.

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