Venus Williams Rejects Retirement Talk at 46 as 14-Match Singles Skid Grows
Updated
Updated · Bleacher Report · Aug 31
Venus Williams Rejects Retirement Talk at 46 as 14-Match Singles Skid Grows
3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Aug 31
Summary
Venus Williams said she is not thinking about retirement after a 6-2, 7-6(6) first-round US Open loss to Sofia Kenin, saying her focus is on recovery and an upcoming doubles match with Serena Williams.
The 46-year-old played after a long delay caused by Novak Djokovic's 4-hour, 36-minute upset loss, with the match starting at 12:13 a.m. — the latest start in US Open history.
Williams still pushed the second set to a tiebreak after trailing 4-2, but the defeat extended her singles losing streak to 14 matches since her last win in July 2025.
The match ended at 2:01 a.m., the latest finish for a first-round match at the US Open, as Williams' drought at the tournament stretched to six straight losses since her 2019 opening-round win.