Queens, NY— After more than two years away from Grand Slam tennis, Venus Williams made an emotional return to the US Open on Monday night. Despite showing glimpses of her former brilliance with powerful serves and precise groundstrokes, the 45-year-old was ultimately defeated 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 by Karolina Muchova in the opening round.
Williams, at 45, became the oldest singles player to compete at the US Open since Renee Richards, who was 47 in 1981. This marked her 25th appearance in the US Open main draw, a record for both men and women since the tournament’s Open Era began.
Muchova, seeded 11th at this year’s event, showed her class throughout the match. The 29-year-old from Czechia was the 2023 French Open runner-up and a semifinalist at both the 2023 and 2024 US Opens, making her a formidable opponent. In just her fourth match since returning to the tour last month after a 16-month hiatus, Williams faced a tough challenge right from the start.
The match began with Muchova taking early control, winning 11 of the first 13 points to jump out to a 2-0 lead. But the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium rallied behind Williams, chanting “Let’s go, Venus!” and cheering her on with every winner. Fueled by their support — and with her fiancé, Andrea Preti, visibly excited in the stands — Williams fought back, winning three straight games to take a 3-2 lead.
However, Muchova responded quickly, winning four consecutive games to take the first set 6-3. Williams struggled with her serve in the opener, hitting four double faults — part of her total of 10 on the night — which helped Muchova break.
The second set saw a rejuvenated Williams. She broke Muchova early and then leveled the match at one set apiece. Her serve was on point, reaching speeds of up to 114 mph, and despite hitting just one fewer winner than Muchova, Williams showed flashes of the form that earned her two US Open singles titles in 2000 and 2001.
But in the third set, Muchova’s quality ultimately shone through. As the match neared the two-hour mark, the Czech star’s consistency and skill overpowered Williams, and Muchova secured the final set 6-1 to close out the match.
As the final point was played, the crowd stood in appreciation of Williams’ remarkable career. She waved to the fans as she left the court, earning a standing ovation for a player whose first US Open title came 25 years ago.
Williams, who took a break from the tour due to uterine fibroid surgery last year, had not competed at a Grand Slam since the 2024 Miami Open. She returned to action in Washington last month, where she won a match in both singles and doubles. The U.S. Tennis Association awarded her wild cards for both the mixed doubles and singles events at the US Open.
Although Williams hasn’t won a singles match at the US Open since 2019, her legacy is far from defined by recent results. In addition to her two US Open singles titles, Williams has won seven Grand Slam singles championships, including five at Wimbledon. Along with her sister Serena, she has amassed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and two in mixed doubles.
The Williams sisters have also been pioneers for the sport, transcending tennis to become global icons. Serena, who retired after the 2022 US Open, leaves behind a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, while Venus continues to inspire future generations of athletes.
