WTA US Open 2026 Venus Williams Sofia Kenin

Venus Williams lashes out at the US Open after starting her match at 12:13 AM

Fernando Murciego - 31 Aug 2026
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Venus Williams demands changes after her farewell: "I don't know another sport where you have to start so late." Source: Getty

Venus Williams bid farewell to the singles draw of the US Open 2026 after losing to Sofia Kenin 6-2 and 7-6 in a match that started past midnight. The 46-year-old American was unable to complete her return to the New York tournament with a victory, although she had chances to extend the match and force a third set. Beyond the defeat, Venus focused on the conditions of an especially complicated night.

The match began at an unprecedented hour for her and also historic for the US Open. The wait until after midnight made preparation even more challenging, something Williams considers unusual in professional sports. “It’s not ideal. I definitely would have preferred something else. I think it wasn’t good for either of us, so we both tried to do our best,” she explained. She added a clear reflection: “I don’t know another sport where you have to start this late. I definitely think there’s room for improvement.”

Despite the circumstances, Venus wanted to highlight the atmosphere she found at Arthur Ashe. A crowd remained in the stands despite the late hour, something the veteran American particularly appreciated. “The audience was really excited. I had never played a match so late, and I was glad to see so many people stayed. It was a true honor to play in front of them,” she acknowledged.

Seven balls to force the third set

Regarding the match's development, Williams particularly lamented the opportunities she had in the second set. She had multiple chances to level the match, but Kenin responded decisively at the important moments. “I think she played well,” Venus noted, especially highlighting her opponent's second serve and admitting she may have made some specific errors, though she didn’t feel she had given away the set.

The American also wanted to assert her own performance. “I had many good moments today,” she explained, stating that during the match she was trying to find her rhythm and raise her level. A task especially complicated considering she was playing deep into the night: “It’s not easy to do it in the first round, and it’s even harder at one or two in the morning.”
Now Venus puts singles aside, but not the tournament. The American will compete in doubles this week and made it clear that she doesn’t want to think yet about what will happen next. “My mind is totally focused on that,” she stated before summarizing the night she just experienced as “completely insane.” Her story in New York, therefore, is not yet over.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Venus Williams carga contra el US Open tras empezar su partido a las 0:13 de la noche