Venus Williams's return to the US Open ended in a spirited first-round defeat to 11th seed Karolína Muchová on Wednesday night, falling 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 45-year-old, a two-time champion in 2000 and 2001, showed flashes of her brilliance but ultimately could not sustain her level against the Czech, a semi-finalist last year.
The match took place on the 28th anniversary of the stadium's opening, where Williams made her debut as a 17-year-old in 1997. Despite a slow start with unforced errors, Williams roared back to take the second set with powerful serving and attacking play, drawing roars from the crowd. However, Muchová regained control in the decider, forcing Williams into defensive positions.
Williams expressed pride in her performance, attributing her inability to maintain her level to a lack of match practice. “I love playing,” she said. “There were just some shots I missed – those kind of shots are about feel and less about training.” She indicated she is unlikely to travel far for tournaments but did not rule out competing next year if events are held in the United States.
The American also opened up about her long struggle with fibroids, which caused significant pain in recent years. After undergoing open myomectomy surgery last year, she felt much better during this match compared to their 2020 encounter. “Today it’s night and day how much better I felt,” she said. “I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to play feeling better.”
