Venus Williams falls at first hurdle in US Open

New York witnessed the first-round exit of tennis legend Venus Williams at the US Open on Monday. The 46-year-old, who had reached the final at the same venue as a teenager in 1997, was defeated by compatriot Sofia Kenin in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (8/6). Williams, who entered the singles field as a wild card after 29 years, displayed a resilient performance on Arthur Ashe Stadium's court that concluded around 2am local time.

Kenin, at 27, seemed to dominate early, taking the first set and leading 4-2 in the second. However, Williams staged an impressive comeback, forcing a tie-break and reaching a 6-2 advantage. Yet, Kenin showed remarkable determination, winning six consecutive points to secure the victory. The match commenced just after midnight following Novak Djokovic's marathon five-set loss earlier in the night session.

Williams, who paid tribute to her fans as she left the court, has not disclosed when she might retire from singles play. Her last Grand Slam singles win was at Wimbledon in 2021, where she reached the second round. Since then, she has participated in six Grand Slam singles events, losing in the first round each time. She will continue her US Open journey by competing in the women's doubles alongside her sister Serena later in the tournament.