Tennis legend Venus Williams has been eliminated from her 26th US Open singles appearance after losing in straight sets to fellow American Sofia Kenin in the opening round.
The 46-year-old was beaten 6-2, 7-6 (6) in a match that began at 12:13 a.m., setting a record as the latest start to a US Open match. The contest ended at 2:01 a.m., making it the latest finish for a first-round match in the tournament’s history.
The defeat extended Williams’ singles losing streak to 15 matches, dating back to her last victory in Washington in July 2025. She has also now lost six consecutive US Open singles matches since winning her opening-round encounter in 2019.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, including five Wimbledon titles and two US Open crowns, said she was not ready to discuss her future in tennis. She will now turn her attention to the doubles competition, where she is scheduled to partner her sister, Serena Williams.
Despite the defeat, Williams said she was proud of her effort, particularly given the unusual late-night start. Kenin, meanwhile, praised her opponent’s performance and said she had to remain composed to secure the victory.
