Venus Williams and the question that no one can avoid anymore
The 46-year-old American came very close to forcing a third set against Sofia Kenin, but ended up losing in two sets, marking her fifteenth consecutive defeat. Does it make sense to continue?
Venus Williams plays. Venus Williams fights. Venus Williams loses. This has been going on for countless episodes. It is the never-ending story for a Venus Williams who refuses to throw in the towel at 46 years of age, even though the results have long turned their backs on her.
Tonight, in the latest starting match in the history of the US Open 2026, the legend from Lynwood fell to Sofia Kenin in the first round with a score of 6-2 and 7-6. Her smile while saying goodbye to all the fans present in New York is idyllic on screen, but if we look at the record, it’s normal for us to throw our hands to our heads and wonder what is happening here. With 15 consecutive losses in her bag, this adventure seems to have lost all sense of travel.
Venus, at 46 years old, is still competing at the highest level. And that is precisely the question that starts to hover over each of her appearances: why? Not because she doesn't have the right to do so, but because the results have long demanded an answer. Her record in 2026 is already 0-11, eight months pursuing an unachievable goal. The problem is that we are not talking about a recent losing streak either. Since the summer of 2023, Venus has only managed to win one match. One! In three years of competition, the seven-time Grand Slam champion has only found the path back to victory once.
Another opportunity slips away
Perhaps the most painful aspect of this latest loss is that, even in a match where Kenin did not need to display extraordinary tennis, Venus had her chance. In the second set, she had seven break points to force a third set. Seven open doors, both on her return and her serve, to a possibility that, once again, ended up closing. That’s where the seams always start to show.
The competitive version of Venus still exists, her serve can still cause problems, and her experience continues to be extraordinary, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find continuity. Important points slip away, her legs feel heavy, and comebacks that once seemed a natural part of her repertoire are now exceptions. Perhaps the question is not why Venus continues to try to win. Perhaps it is why she should stop. Who has the right to tell a champion when it’s time to leave? Well, in this case, the final word will belong to the tournaments, which are the ones that continue to grant her invitations.
The problem is that professional sports do not understand nostalgia. Rankings do not recognize past titles. The court does not recognize legends. Venus belongs to the history of tennis, but when she returns to compete, she is subjected to the exact same judgment as any other player. At 46, each of her matches has something of a tribute and something of a question mark. And while the answer remains to step onto the court, compete, and seek a victory that has not come in three years, Venus will continue to write the epilogue of a career that perhaps is still not ready to end.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Venus Williams y la pregunta que ya nadie puede evitar