Venus Williams continues her singles losing streak, now at 13 matches. The seven-time major champion suffered a 6-2, 6-2 defeat against Emiliana Arango at the Cincinnati Open’s first round. Williams, aged 46, entered the WTA 1000 event as a wild-card recipient and has not secured a singles victory since July 2025. Arango, a 25-year-old Colombian qualifier ranked 95th, clinched the win against Williams at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, taking just over an hour to do so. The match unfolded on the grandstand court, where Williams struggled after losing her serve in the opening game. Arango capitalized on break points, converting 4 out of 5, and dominated 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 early lead, Arango credited it with calming her nerves and maintaining pressure on Williams throughout the match. Arango is set to face the 7th seed and defending Cincinnati champion, Iga Swiatek, in the second round.
Venus Williams last tasted singles victory in Washington last year when she defeated Peyton Stearns. Commenting on her performance, Williams expressed disappointment in not finishing points as desired despite feeling in control. This marks Williams’ 11th appearance in the Cincinnati tournament. Despite the singles setback, Williams will partner with her sister, Serena, in the doubles event after receiving a wild-card entry. The sisters, who last played doubles together at the 2022 U.S. Open, were initially slated to team up at Wimbledon but had to withdraw due to Serena’s injury. They are scheduled to face Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in the opening round of the doubles tournament that commences on Sunday. Looking ahead to the doubles competition, Venus Williams expressed enthusiasm and readiness, aiming to approach the matches with a fresh perspective. Additionally, Venus is set to participate in mixed doubles at the upcoming U.S. Open alongside Alexander Bublik.