Venus Williams suffers first-round defeat at U.S. Open

In the U.S. Open first round on August 31, 2026, Venus Williams lost to Sofia Kenin in straight sets. The match started at 12:13 a.m., the latest in U.S. Open history, and ended at 2:01 a.m. This defeat marked Williams' 15th consecutive singles loss, raising questions about her future in tennis.