NEW YORK — Venus Williams’ return to the US Open singles competition ended in the early hours of Monday after fellow American Sofia Kenin survived a spirited second-set fightback to win their first-round match in New York.
The 46-year-old Williams, competing in her 26th US Open main draw, was beaten 6-2, 7-6(6) on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match began at 12:13 a.m., making it the latest start for a women’s match in the tournament’s history.
Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, made the stronger start. The 27-year-old wildcard broke early and quickly established control, taking the opening set 6-2 as Williams struggled to settle into the contest.
The second set looked to be heading in the same direction when Kenin moved ahead 4-2 and earned a break point that could have given her an even bigger advantage. Williams held her serve, however, and suddenly changed the course of the match.
Williams then won three consecutive games to move 5-4 ahead. She created three set points on Kenin’s serve in the 10th game but could not convert them. Kenin recovered to force a tiebreak, setting up a tense finish in front of the remaining late-night crowd.
The veteran American appeared close to extending the match when she moved 6-2 ahead in the tiebreak, giving her four set points. Kenin refused to yield, winning six points in succession to complete a 7-6(6) victory and book her place in the second round.
The contest lasted one hour and 48 minutes and followed Novak Djokovic’s marathon first-round defeat by Argentina’s Mariano Navone. That earlier match contributed to the unusually late start on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
For Williams, the defeat extended a difficult run in singles. Her most recent Grand Slam singles victory came at Wimbledon in 2021, and she has now suffered consecutive first-round exits in her subsequent six Grand Slam singles appearances.
Williams has not indicated that the defeat marks the end of her singles career. Her US Open campaign will continue in women’s doubles, where she is scheduled to partner her younger sister, Serena Williams.
Kenin advances to the second round, where she will meet another American, third seed Jessica Pegula, who defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse in straight sets in her opening match.
