Venus Williams' 26th US Open singles campaign ended in the early hours of Monday morning when she fell to fellow American wildcard Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-6 (6) in a first-round encounter that began at 12.13am—the latest start time in the tournament's history. The match concluded at 2.01am after 1 hour 48 minutes of play, marking the latest finish for a first-round match in US Open history and the third-latest women's match at any stage of the tournament. The defeat extended Williams' winless streak at tour level to 15 consecutive matches and marked her first-round exit from a major championship.
At 46 years old and ranked 611th globally, Williams arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium as the oldest player competing in the singles draw and made her 96th Grand Slam main-draw appearance, a testament to her extraordinary longevity in professional tennis. The seven-time grand slam singles champion has not won a match at a major tournament since Wimbledon in 2021, a drought that now spans more than four years. Despite her struggles this season, the thousands of spectators who remained in the stadium past 2am underscored the enduring appeal of watching one of tennis's most iconic figures compete.
The match itself proved one-sided for much of its duration. Williams was broken immediately in her opening service game after just three minutes and again on her next service turn, falling into a 0-3 deficit that proved insurmountable in the first set. She managed a brief recovery by breaking Kenin and holding serve to reach 2-3, but her opponent reeled off three consecutive games to claim the opening set in 32 minutes. Kenin's dominance from the baseline was evident: she won 61% of the points played behind Williams' second serve and finished with 28 winners compared to Williams' 13, demonstrating superior consistency on the match's most critical moments.
The second set offered more resistance from Williams. Kenin appeared poised to advance comfortably after securing an early break, but a succession of unforced errors opened the door for her opponent. Williams fought back to force a tie-break, surging to a 6-2 lead and creating four set points at 6-2. However, Kenin recovered composure to reel off six consecutive points, clinching both the tie-break and the match to advance to the second round.
Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion who also reached the Roland Garros final that same year, has struggled for consistency throughout 2026, winning just five of 21 tour-level matches before this encounter. After the victory, she acknowledged the difficulty of the late-night conditions.
Venus obviously was playing some amazing tennis. 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.Kenin will next face No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula in the second round.
Williams' loss came after a difficult 2026 season in which she has struggled to find her form. Earlier this year at the Madrid Open in April, she suffered her 10th consecutive singles loss, a streak that has only grown since then. The wildcard invitation itself had sparked debate within the tennis community about resource allocation, as a first-round loser at the US Open receives $140,000—a sum that can prove transformative for players grinding through the lower tiers of professional tennis where expenses frequently exceed earnings.
Why did Williams receive a wildcard?
Craig Tiley, the US Open's incoming tournament director, defended the decision to award Williams a main-draw spot without hesitation.
In our view, Venus deserved a wildcard. Her contribution to the game and what she brings to the event, you know, I didn't think one second about it, to tell you the honest truth. I think she's a magnificent champion, an American tennis icon, and we see the feedback the fans give us, and they want to see Venus play.Williams' accomplishments extend far beyond her seven grand slam singles titles: she has been ranked world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, won four Olympic gold medals, and captured 14 grand slam doubles titles. She made her US Open debut as a 17-year-old in 1997, the same year Arthur Ashe Stadium opened, becoming the first unseeded player in the Open era to reach the final before losing to Martina Hingis.
The wildcard decision also reflected broader circumstances at the tournament. Kenin received the final US Open women's singles wildcard after Serena Williams chose not to play singles in New York, meaning the two American wildcards were determined by Serena's decision to focus on doubles rather than singles competition.
What did Williams say about the late start?
When asked about her future in the sport following the defeat, Williams declined to engage with speculation about retirement.
I don't think I should have to. My mind is fully focused on that: how I recover from this completely insane evening and get ready for the next one.She was more forthcoming about the scheduling circumstances, describing the 12.13am start time as problematic.
It's not ideal. I would have preferred something else definitely. It wasn't great for either of us, so I think we both tried our best. I just don't know any other sport where you have to start that late. I definitely think there's room for improvement there.
What happens next for Williams?
Venus Williams will still play the women's doubles tournament with her sister Serena Williams, bringing them back to the same side of a tennis court at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2022. The doubles competition begins on Thursday, offering Williams an opportunity to compete alongside her sister in what represents a rare reunion at a major championship. The US Open continues through 13 September 2026.
Key Facts
- Williams' loss extended her tour-level losing streak to 15 consecutive matches, with her last victory coming at Wimbledon in 2021
- The match began at 12.13am and concluded at 2.01am, marking the latest start and finish times in US Open history for a first-round match
- Williams made her 96th Grand Slam main-draw appearance, underscoring her unprecedented longevity in professional tennis
- Kenin won 61% of points played behind Williams' second serve and finished with 28 winners to Williams' 13
- Williams will compete in women's doubles with Serena Williams, their first partnership at the US Open since 2022
