Venus Williams extended her singles losing streak to 13 matches as she was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Emiliana Arango in the first round of the Cincinnati Open. The seven-time major champion, who received a wild-card entry to the WTA 1000 event, last won a singles match in July 2025. Arango, a 25-year-old Colombian qualifier ranked 95th, secured victory in one hour and five minutes at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Arango broke Williams’ serve in the opening game, setting the tone for the match. She capitalized on 4 out of 5 break points and won 71% of her first-serve points, while Williams struggled to convert her chances and only managed to win 41% of her first-serve points. Looking ahead, Arango is set to face the defending Cincinnati champion, Iga Swiatek, in the second round.
Venus Williams, in her 11th appearance at the tournament, reflected on her last singles victory in Washington against Peyton Stearns. Despite feeling in control of the points, Williams acknowledged the need for greater consistency to finish strong. Following her singles match, Williams will team up with her sister, Serena, for the doubles event in Cincinnati. The Williams sisters, who last played doubles together at the 2022 U.S. Open, are scheduled to face Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in the first round.
Looking ahead, Venus Williams expressed excitement about the upcoming doubles competition and her mixed doubles partnership with Alexander Bublik at the U.S. Open later this month.