NEW YORK – In a poignant moment for tennis fans, Venus Williams concluded her 26th U.S. Open singles appearance early Monday morning. The 46-year-old lost in straight sets to fellow American wild card Sofia Kenin, with the match starting at midnight, an unusual time for such a high-profile event.
The final score of 6-2, 7-6 (6) marked what could potentially be Williams’ last singles match at a Grand Slam, putting an end to a remarkable career that spanned decades. This defeat adds to her current streak of 15 consecutive singles losses, dating back to her last victory in Washington in July 2025.
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This latest setback continues a challenging trend for Williams at the U.S. Open, where she has lost six consecutive matches since her first-round victory in 2019. Despite the defeat, her focus remains on the upcoming doubles event with her sister Serena, and she was not ready to discuss her future in tennis. “I don’t think I should have to,” Williams remarked after the match, emphasizing her commitment to recovery and preparation for the next competition.
The match itself was a product of unusual scheduling, with Williams and Kenin waiting an extended period to compete due to a lengthy match between Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone. Their match commenced at 12:13 a.m., setting a new record for the latest start time for a match at the U.S. Open, surpassing the previous record by six minutes.
“It’s not ideal,” Williams reflected on the late start. “I would have preferred something else, definitely. It wasn’t great for either of us, so I think we both tried our best.”
Kenin seized the first set in just 32 minutes, while Williams rallied in the second set, battling back from a 4-2 deficit to push the set into a tiebreak. Despite her efforts, she ultimately fell short, unable to convert on several set points.
“Venus obviously was playing some amazing tennis,” Kenin acknowledged. “I just tried to keep fighting. I didn’t feel 100% game-wise, some nerves, but I tried to do the best to stay strong in those moments.”
Concluding at 2:01 a.m., the match also set the record for the latest finish for a first-round match in U.S. Open history and was the third-latest for a women’s match at any stage of the tournament.
Reflecting on her career, Williams stated, “I had a lot of great moments. As the match progressed, I just kept pushing myself to try to find my best tennis and to find my rhythm.” She noted the difficulties of performing in the early hours, emphasizing the challenge of finding one’s rhythm under such circumstances.
A quarter-century has passed since Williams won her second consecutive championship in New York, and she remains a figure of significant importance in the world of tennis, with a total of seven Grand Slam singles titles, including five from Wimbledon.
As she prepares for her upcoming doubles match with Serena, Williams strives to appreciate every moment, despite the competitive nature of the sport. “I always try to appreciate it, but it is definitely all business and there’s no room for error,” she said. “Try to soak it in, and soaking it in is more fun when the ball’s going in.”
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