Venus Williams continues to struggle in singles matches, now on a 13-match losing streak. The former seven-time major champion faced a defeat of 6-2, 6-2 against Emiliana Arango at the Cincinnati Open. Williams, aged 46, entered the WTA 1000 event with a wild-card entry but has not secured a singles victory since July 2025. Arango, a 25-year-old Colombian qualifier ranked 95th, triumphed over Williams in one hour and five minutes at Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
The match saw Williams conceding an early break in the first game, setting the tone for a challenging battle ahead. Arango capitalized on break points, converting 4 out of 5, and impressively won 71% of her first-serve points. On the other hand, Williams struggled to make an impact, failing to convert her only break opportunity and managing a mere 41% on first-serve points.
Reflecting on her victory, Arango expressed satisfaction with gaining an early advantage, which helped calm her nerves and maintain control throughout the match. In the next round, Arango is set to face the defending Cincinnati champion, Iga Swiatek, who is seeded seventh.
Williams’ last singles win dates back to the previous year in Washington when she defeated Peyton Stearns. Despite feeling in control of the points during her matches, Williams acknowledged the need for more consistency in finishing off games.
Following her singles match, Venus Williams will partner with her sister Serena for the doubles event in Cincinnati, where they received a wild-card entry. The Williams sisters, who last played doubles together at the 2022 U.S. Open, were originally scheduled to team up at Wimbledon before Serena’s injury. Their first-round opponents in Cincinnati will be Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns, with the doubles tournament commencing on Sunday.
Looking ahead, Venus Williams is gearing up for mixed doubles at the upcoming U.S. Open later this month, where she will pair with Alexander Bublik.
