Venus Williams continues to struggle in singles matches, now on a 13-match losing streak. The former seven-time major champion was convincingly defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Emiliana Arango in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open. Williams, aged 46, entered the WTA 1000 event as a wild-card recipient but has not secured a singles victory since July 2025. Arango, a 25-year-old qualifier from Colombia ranked 95th, managed to defeat Williams in one hour and five minutes on the grandstand court at Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
The match started with Williams losing her serve in the first game, setting the tone for her subsequent struggles. 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 a 41% success rate on first-serve points.
Reflecting on her victory, Arango expressed confidence in getting an early lead, which helped calm her nerves and maintain pressure on Williams. In the next round, Arango is set to face off against the 7th seed and defending Cincinnati champion Iga Swiatek.
Williams’s most recent singles win dates back to the previous year in Washington against Peyton Stearns. Despite feeling in control during points, Williams acknowledged the need for improved consistency in finishing them off. This tournament marks Williams’ 11th appearance in Cincinnati.
Following her singles defeat, Venus Williams will partner with her sister, Serena, for the doubles event after receiving a wild-card entry. The Williams sisters, who last played doubles together at the 2022 U.S. Open, were originally scheduled to compete at Wimbledon before Serena’s injury. Their first-round opponents will be Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns, with the doubles matches commencing on Sunday.
Looking ahead, Venus Williams expressed excitement about the upcoming doubles competition with her sister and confirmed her participation in mixed doubles at the upcoming U.S. Open alongside Alexander Bublik.