Queens, NY — Venus Williams’ latest chapter at the US Open came to an end in the early hours of Monday morning, as the 46-year-old American was defeated by fellow wild card Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-6 (6) in a match that began after midnight at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Williams, competing in her 26th US Open singles tournament, did not take the court until 12:13 a.m., setting a tournament record for the latest start to a match. The contest eventually concluded at 2:01 a.m., making it the latest finish ever recorded for a US Open first-round match.
The circumstances were unusual, but Williams refused to use the late start as an excuse.
“It’s not ideal,” Williams said. “I would have preferred something else, definitely. It wasn’t great for either of us, so I think we both tried our best.”
The defeat extended Williams’ singles losing streak to 14 matches. Her most recent singles victory came in Washington in July 2025. She has also now dropped six consecutive singles matches at the US Open since her last first-round victory in 2019.
More significantly, the loss raised questions about whether Williams had played her final singles match in a Grand Slam—or perhaps the final singles match of her career.
Williams, however, wasn’t ready to discuss retirement.
“I don’t think I should have to,” Williams said when asked about her future. “My mind is fully focused on that: how I recover from this completely insane evening and get ready for the next one.”
A Night That Started After Midnight
The match was pushed deep into the morning following Novak Djokovic’s lengthy five-set battle with Mariano Navone. Djokovic’s match lasted 4 hours, 36 minutes, creating the possibility that Williams and Kenin would be moved from Arthur Ashe Stadium to Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Instead, the match remained at Ashe—but only after the clock had passed midnight.
The 12:13 a.m. start surpassed the previous US Open record, set when Aryna Sabalenka played Ekaterina Alexandrova at 12:07 a.m. during the 2024 tournament.
Despite the extraordinary circumstances, both players attempted to remain focused.
Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, immediately established control. She needed only 32 minutes to capture the opening set 6-2.
Williams responded in the second set, however, giving the remaining crowd plenty to cheer about. She battled back from a 4-2 deficit and forced the set into a tiebreak.
The veteran American created several opportunities to extend the match, but Kenin stayed composed when it mattered most. Williams eventually sent a shot into the net, ending the contest.
“Venus, obviously, was playing some amazing tennis,” Kenin said. “I just tried to keep fighting. I didn’t feel 100% gamewise, some nerves, but I tried to do the best to stay strong in those moments.”
The victory was particularly notable for Kenin, who entered the match with an 0-5 record in US Open night-session matches.
It was also the only first-round meeting between two former Grand Slam singles champions in this year’s tournament, men’s or women’s.
Williams Looks Ahead
For Williams, the night was another reminder of just how difficult it can be to compete at the highest level after more than two decades of professional tennis.
She acknowledged that finding her rhythm was particularly challenging under the circumstances.
“I had a lot of great moments,” Williams said. “As the match progressed, I just kept pushing myself to try to find my best tennis and to find my rhythm.”
She added:
“It’s not easy to do in the first round. It’s not easy to do at 1 or 2 a.m. in the morning to try to find your rhythm and play your best, but I tried my best.”
Williams has spent more than 25 years building one of the most accomplished careers in women’s tennis. She won the US Open twice and captured seven Grand Slam singles championships, including five Wimbledon titles between 2000 and 2008.
Her longevity and success have made her one of the defining figures of the sport’s modern era.
But her US Open journey isn’t necessarily finished.
Williams is scheduled to return to the tournament later this week for doubles alongside her sister, Serena Williams. For now, that is where her attention remains.
“I always try to appreciate it, but it is definitely all business and there’s no room for error,” Williams said. “Try to soak it in, and soaking it in is more fun when the ball’s going in.”
Whether Monday morning marked the final singles appearance of Venus Williams’ legendary career remains unanswered.
For the moment, Williams isn’t looking that far ahead. She’s focused on recovering, returning to the court and continuing to compete.
