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Sofia Kenin ends Venus Williams’ US Open run after dramatic late-night battle

Posted : 31 August 2026

Sofia Kenin defeated fellow American Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) in a dramatic first-round encounter at the 2026 US Open, extending Williams’ singles losing streak to 15 matches.

The match began at 12:13 a.m. local time at Arthur Ashe Stadium, making it the latest start for a women’s match in US Open history. The contest followed Novak Djokovic’s four-hour, 36-minute defeat by Mariano Navone, leaving only a small crowd in the stands by the time Williams and Kenin took to the court.

Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, controlled the opening set and moved into a 4-2 lead in the second. Williams, however, responded with a spirited comeback and created several opportunities to force a deciding set.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion led 6-2 in the second-set tiebreak and had seven set points, but Kenin produced a remarkable response. The 27-year-old American won six consecutive points to close out the match after one hour and 48 minutes.

Williams, 46, said the extremely late start made it difficult to find her rhythm and questioned the scheduling of matches that begin around midnight. She nevertheless praised the atmosphere and acknowledged the challenge of competing at such a late hour.

The defeat came in Williams’ 26th US Open appearance and marked her 15th consecutive singles loss. Despite her current ranking and recent results, the former world No. 1 received a wildcard for the tournament, continuing a season in which she has been granted multiple wildcard entries.

Kenin advanced to the second round, where she will face fellow American Jessica Pegula. Williams’ US Open campaign is not necessarily over, however, as she is also scheduled to compete in the women’s doubles alongside her sister Serena Williams.

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