Venus Williams bows out in first round of women’s singles at US Open | CNN
CNN
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A day later his sister Serena stepped forward. In the second round of singles play at the US Open tennis tournament, Venus Williams was not so lucky, losing in straight sets to Belgium’s Allison van Utvanck.
Appearing in a record 23rd US Open of the Open era, Williams lost her first-round match 6–1, 7–6 (5) at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
She and Serena will play their first doubles match on Wednesday or Thursday. It will be the first time the sisters, who have won 14 Grand Slams as a partner, have played together in a tournament since 2018.
Tuesday’s competition was just. Fourth match of this year For Venus Williams.
“It was definitely the longest time I’ve been away from tennis without a racket in my hand,” she said, referring to her yearlong break between competitive matches that ended earlier this month. said “So it was a whole new experience for me, getting a racket back in my hand and trying to get acclimated as quickly as possible to get ready for the US Open, which wasn’t easy.
“Sure, like, there’s a lot of great points at play but it’s just, in the end, it’s just rust. There’s nothing you can do about it except you know not to get rusty at some point.
The 42-year-old was the oldest player in this year’s draw and it was her 91st Grand Slam main draw – also a tennis record.
Williams was also asked about her sister’s retirement from the game and whether Serena needed her support. “I don’t know exactly. I think she’s had some time to process it, and she’s doing it the way she wants to. That’s the most important thing, to work on her own terms. ” he said.
Williams has not revealed her plans for her long-term tennis future.
“Right now I’m just focused on doubles,” she said, smiling as if it was Serena’s idea. “She’s the boss, so I do what she tells me to do.”
Van Utvanck, ranked 43rd in the world, will meet France’s Clara Borel in the second round. In her only previous match, Van Utvanck won the 2021 Australian Open.