Venus Williams suffered her 13th consecutive singles defeat as she was outplayed by Emiliana Arango with a score of 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open. The seven-time major champion, aged 46, entered the WTA 1000 event as a wild-card entrant but failed to secure a victory, extending her winless streak in singles matches since July 2025.
Arango, a 25-year-old Colombian qualifier ranked 95th, showcased a dominant performance, taking down Williams in just one hour and five minutes on the grandstand court at Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Williams struggled from the start, losing her serve in the opening game and facing an uphill battle throughout the match. Arango capitalized on break points, converting 4 out of 5, and excelled in winning 71% of her first-serve points.
On the other hand, Williams struggled to find her rhythm, failing to convert her only break opportunity and managing to win just 41% of her first-serve points. Reflecting on her victory, Arango mentioned that securing an early lead helped calm her nerves, allowing her to maintain pressure on Williams.
Arango’s next challenge will be against the 7th seed and defending champion, Iga Swiatek, in the second round of the tournament. Williams’ previous singles triumph dates back to last year in Washington against Peyton Stearns, and despite feeling in control of her shots, she acknowledged the need for more consistency in finishing points.
Following her singles defeat, Williams will partner with her sister, Serena Williams, in the doubles event at Cincinnati, where they received a wild-card entry. The duo, known for their successful doubles partnership, last competed together at the 2022 U.S. Open and were set to play at Wimbledon before Serena’s injury.
The Williams sisters are scheduled to face Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in the opening round of the doubles competition, set to commence on Sunday. Venus Williams expressed her excitement for the upcoming doubles matches and her participation in mixed doubles with Alexander Bublik at the upcoming U.S. Open later this month.