Venus Williams loses 15th straight match at US Open — SkimNews
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- Venus Williams fell to Sofia Kenin 6-2 7-6 (8-6) in the US Open first round, extending her singles losing streak to 15 matches and marking her 19th loss in 20 singles outings.
- The match began at 00:13 local time after Mariano Navone's five-set upset of Novak Djokovic on Arthur Ashe Stadium, making it the latest starting match in US Open history with barely 1,000 spectators remaining at the finish.
- Williams led the second-set tiebreak 6-2 but lost the final six points, with Kenin saving seven set points to close out the contest.
- Williams is ranked 618th in the world and received her 12th wildcard of the 2025 season — her first Grand Slam appearance by ranking since Wimbledon 2021.
- Tournament director Karl Hale defended awarding her wildcards, telling BBC Sport her "phenomenal legacy" and commercial draw justify the slots, noting she opened this year's Toronto event as a featured attraction.
- Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash countered that Williams shouldn't be taking wildcards away from younger players, though he conceded her status as a "draw card" still makes her valuable to smaller tournaments.
- Williams will now switch to women's doubles alongside sister Serena Williams, declining to discuss her singles future: "I don't think I should have to."
Why it matters: Eight of 128 Grand Slam draw spots go to wildcards, and Williams has consumed 12 across all tour levels this year despite ranking 618th — a trade-off that tournament directors like Hale say pays commercially while critics like Cash argue blocks higher-ranked, younger players from breakthrough opportunities.
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