Venus Williams bowed out of her 26th U.S. Open singles campaign early Monday morning, falling in straight sets to Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-6 (6) at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The late-night first-round match set a tournament record for the latest start in women’s history at 12:13 a.m.
The opening match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center carried all the weight of a generational clash, pitting the 46-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion against her 27-year-old compatriot in the first-ever meeting between the two players. For Williams, the straight-sets defeat marks her 14th consecutive singles loss dating back to July 2025, extending a difficult stretch at the majors.
Record-Breaking Late Start at Arthur Ashe Stadium
The scheduling drama began well before either player stepped onto the court. Williams and Kenin were forced to wait out a grueling four-hour, 36-minute marathon between Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone. The men’s five-set contest pushed the evening session to its absolute limit, threatening at one point to displace the women’s match to nearby Louis Armstrong Stadium.
When the court finally cleared, the clock had pushed past midnight. At 12:13 a.m. local time, the players traded their first serves, eclipsing the previous record set by Aryna Sabalenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova in 2024 by six minutes. Despite the extraordinary hour, a dedicated contingent of fans stayed in the stands to cheer on the veteran wildcard, filling the arena with chants of Let's go Venus.
“It was extremely late, I’ve never played a match that late before and I was happy to see that so many people stuck around for that. It was a real honour to play in front of them.”
Venus Williams, via New York Post
The match ultimately concluded at 2:01 a.m., establishing the latest finish ever recorded for a first-round match at the tournament and standing as the third-latest finish for any women’s match in event history. Speaking with reporters after exiting the court, Williams questioned the scheduling logic.
“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.”
Venus Williams, via Independent
Sofia Kenin Navigates Nervous Battle to Secure Victory
On the court, both competitors fought through early jitters and struggled to establish a consistent rhythm under the floodlights. The opening set saw the players combine for nine double faults. Kenin capitalized first, breaking Williams immediately and racing to a 3-0 lead before closing out the frame in just 32 minutes.
The second set offered a much stiffer challenge. After falling behind 4-2, Williams mounted a gritty recovery, energizing the late-night crowd and saving four break points to level at 5-5. Williams held serve to force a tiebreak and gained the upper hand, but she failed to convert any of her seven set points as Kenin dug in.
“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.”
Sofia Kenin, via India Today
Kenin eventually secured the tiebreak when Williams sent a final shot into the net, sealing a straight-sets victory that bypassed a second-round appearance for Williams at Flushing Meadows for the second consecutive year.
Next Round Matchups and Doubles Plans at Flushing Meadows
With the opening victory secured, Kenin advances in the draw to face top-ranked American Jessica Pegula in the second round. Pegula opened her campaign earlier in the day with a straightforward victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
While Williams’s singles career at the majors may have reached its conclusion after her 96th Grand Slam main draw appearance, her time in New York is not finished yet. Tournament organizers have granted a wildcard entry to Williams and her sister Serena, setting the pair up to compete together in the women’s doubles draw later in the week.
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