In a surprising turn of events at the U S Open, tennis icon Venus Williams suffered her most lopsided loss in her storied career at the Grand Slam tournament. The match, which took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium, saw Venus Williams facing Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen in the first round. The final score, 6-1, 6-1 in favor of Minnen, left spectators in awe.
In a stadium that has seen countless memorable moments from the Williams sisters, this time it was Venus, not Serena, on the court. However, unlike previous appearances, there was no grand ceremony, no formal farewell to mark the occasion. Unlike her younger sister Serena, who bid farewell to professional tennis after a final hurrah at Flushing Meadows in 2022, Venus Williams continues to compete, despite being 43 years old and nursing a knee injury that proved challenging on the humid evening.
Venus Williams, the champion who claimed the U S Open trophy in 2000 and 2001, faced an unexpected setback against Minnen, a Belgian qualifier. The loss marked her most one-sided defeat in 100 career matches at the tournament.
A Rare Streak of Defeats
Despite the outcome, the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium showered Venus with applause and cheers as she made her way toward the locker room. In response, she offered a quick wave and a smile, acknowledging the unwavering support of her fans.
Reflecting on the match, Venus Williams expressed her gratitude for the continued support from her fans, emphasizing the special connection she has with the U.S. Open. As the oldest player in the tournament, she acknowledged the beauty of the moment and her love for the competition.
For Venus Williams, this marked her third consecutive opening-round loss at the U.S. Open, a surprising contrast to her earlier dominance at the event.
In other action on Ashe, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the second round due to an unfortunate injury. His opponent, Dominik Koepfer, had to stop playing while trailing 6-2, 3-2 after turning his ankle during the match’s eighth point.
Greet Minnen, the 26-year-old Belgian qualifier who delivered the unexpected victory against Venus Williams, was born in August 1997, just a month before Williams reached her first U.S. Open final. This striking generational contrast adds depth to the narrative of this remarkable match at the U.S. Open.