Venus Williams Falls in Straight Sets at U.S. Open to Unranked Qualifier

Venus Williams’s trip to the 2023 U.S. Open proved to be a short one.

In her 100th career U.S. Open match, the seven-time major tournament champion fell in straight sets to qualifier Greet Minnen Tuesday evening in Flushing Meadows, losing 1–6, 1–6. The first-round match lasted just one hour and 14 minutes before Minnen was able to close things out on her serve and advance to the second round.

Williams, 43, arrived at the tournament for the 24th time to much fanfare, having won the U.S. Open in 2000 and ‘01. However, the possibility of a deep run seemed unlikely, given that she’d played in just six events prior to the year’s final major due to various injuries in recent years.

Williams, who burst on the scene in 1994 as a 14-year-old, achieved success rapidly during her early years as a professional. She won seven individual Grand Slam titles—including five at Wimbledon—between 2000 and ‘08 and 14 doubles championships alongside her younger sister, Serena.

Though Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, announced that she was stepping away from tennis after last year’s U.S. Open, Venus has yet to publicly declare her future intentions in the sport.