Venus Williams faced another defeat in singles play, extending her losing streak to 13 matches. The seven-time major champion was outplayed 6-2, 6-2 by Emiliana Arango in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open. Williams, aged 46, entered the WTA 1000 event as a wild-card participant but has not secured a singles victory since July 2025. Arango, a 25-year-old Colombian qualifier ranked 95th, swiftly defeated Williams in just over an hour on the grandstand court at Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
From the start, Williams struggled as Arango broke her serve in the first game and maintained control throughout the match. Arango capitalized on her break point opportunities, converting 4 out of 5 chances, and excelled by winning 71% of her first-serve points. In contrast, Williams failed to convert her sole break opportunity and only managed to win 41% of her first-serve points.
Reflecting on her performance, Arango expressed satisfaction with gaining an early advantage, stating, “That kind of eased my nerves a little bit of having maybe a little bit of breathing room.” In the next round, Arango is set to face the tournament’s 7th seed and defending champion, Iga Swiatek.
Williams’ most recent singles triumph occurred last year in Washington against Peyton Stearns. Despite feeling in control of her shots, Williams acknowledged the need for improved consistency in finishing points. This marks Williams’ 11th appearance in the Cincinnati tournament, where she aims to refine her game and make a strong comeback.
Following her singles disappointment, Williams will partner with her sister, Serena, in the doubles event at Cincinnati after receiving a wild-card entry. The Williams sisters’ last doubles appearance was at the 2022 U.S. Open, and they were scheduled to team up at Wimbledon before Serena’s injury. In the upcoming doubles competition, they are slated to face Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in the opening round, which commences on Sunday.
Looking ahead, Venus Williams expressed enthusiasm for the doubles competition, emphasizing her readiness and preparation alongside her sister. Additionally, she is scheduled to participate in mixed doubles at the upcoming U.S. Open with Alexander Bublik.