Venus Williams eliminated in 1st round at US Open
On 31 August 2026 Sofia Kenin defeated Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6 after a tiebreak in which Kenin saved four set points.
Venus Williams, who returned to the tour at the age of 46, was eliminated in the 1st round of the US Open on 31 August 2026, after losing to Sofia Kenin 6-2 and 7-6.
Kenin took the first set convincingly 6-2, while the second set was much more even — there were two breaks and it ultimately went to a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Sofia saved all four set points that Venus had, fending them off one by one, and won the matchup.
Comebacks and mental resilience
Kenin showed great resilience when it mattered most and seized the moment against the legendary American. The five-time Wimbledon champion no longer resembles her best days and the result highlights that gap on the court.
Venus Williams recorded her 16th consecutive loss. At 46 years old, the comeback did not yield a stable result and the international career of one of the holders of seven Grand Slam titles suffered a new, heavy blow.
The former champion leaves the US Open after a short and closely watched stint, while Sofia Kenin moves on and carries the boost of confidence into the next round.
Photo: press material from the event
