Venus Williams Falls 6-2, 7-6 (6) to Sofia Kenin in Record-Breaking Late Start

Venus Williams exited her 26th US Open singles appearance following a 6-2, 7-6 (6) defeat against wild card Sofia Kenin in a match that concluded at 2:01 a.m.

Sofia Kenin defeated Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6 (6) in the opening round of the US Open, marking the latest start time in the tournament's history. The match commenced at 12:13 a.m. local time on Monday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, surpassing the previous record of 12:07 a.m. set by Aryna Sabalenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova in 2024. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, secured the first set in 32 minutes before surviving a second-set tiebreak where Williams held multiple set points. The contest concluded at 2:01 a.m., establishing a new record for the latest finish of a first-round match in New York and the third-latest finish for any women's match at the event.

Record Delays at Arthur Ashe Stadium

The start of the match was pushed past midnight due to a marathon men's singles encounter. Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone played for 4 hours and 36 minutes, a duration that nearly forced the Williams-Kenin match to relocate to Louis Armstrong Stadium. Williams, currently 46 years old, was competing in her 26th singles draw at this Grand Slam. The loss represents her 14th consecutive singles defeat, a streak that began after her last professional victory in Washington in July 2025. Additionally, the seven-time major champion has now lost six consecutive matches at the US Open, with her last win at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center occurring in the first round of 2019.

Second Set Tiebreak and Statistical Milestones

Kenin entered the match with an 0-5 career record in night sessions at the US Open but secured her first such victory by overcoming a 4-2 deficit in the second set. Williams rallied from that break down to force the tiebreak, which Kenin eventually won 8-6 after the elder American struck a ball into the net. This clash was the only first-round match in either the men's or women's singles draws to feature two former major champions. While Kenin is 27 years old, Williams is a quarter-century removed from her consecutive titles in New York. The veteran’s career includes five Wimbledon singles trophies earned between 2000 and 2008.

Historical Context and Doubles Outlook

Williams’ singles career remains under speculation following this result, which could potentially be her final appearance in a Grand Slam singles draw. Despite the singles exit, she is scheduled to remain in the tournament to compete in the women's doubles draw alongside her sister, Serena Williams. The pair, who received a wild-card entry for this year’s event, have previously captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together. Their history at the US Open includes championship wins in both 1999 and 2009. The late-staying crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium remained to cheer Williams as she attempted to extend the match during the second set, which lasted significantly longer than the opening 32-minute frame.