Venus Williams Crashes Out of US Open After Late-Night Battle With Sofia Kenin

Venus Williams’ latest US Open campaign ended in the opening round after the 46-year-old American was beaten in straight sets by compatriot Sofia Kenin at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The veteran was defeated 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) in a match that finished shortly after 2am local time, nearly three decades after Williams reached the US Open final as a teenager in 1997.

Kenin looked set for a comfortable victory after dominating the first set and opening a 4-2 advantage in the second. The 27-year-old then earned a break point that could have put her 5-2 ahead.

Williams, however, produced a spirited response in front of the late-night New York crowd. She fought her way back into the contest and forced the second set into a tie-break, keeping alive hopes of a remarkable comeback.

The former US Open finalist appeared close to completing the turnaround when she raced into a 6-2 lead in the tie-break. Kenin refused to panic, winning six consecutive points to seal the match 8-6 and advance to the second round.

The encounter began shortly after midnight following Novak Djokovic’s marathon five-set defeat earlier in the night. Williams acknowledged the supporters as she left the court after a performance that earned a warm reception despite the result.

The defeat continues a difficult run for Williams in Grand Slam singles. Her most recent Grand Slam singles victory came at Wimbledon in 2021, and she has since made six appearances at major tournaments, losing in the first round each time.

Despite her singles exit, Williams’ US Open campaign is not over. She will return to the court later in the tournament to compete in the women’s doubles alongside her sister, Serena Williams.