How did Venus Williams's 2026 US Open end?
Sofia Kenin beat Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6(6) in the first round, finishing at 2:01am on Monday 31 August, the latest first-round finish in the tournament's history. Williams is 46 and it was her 26th US Open.
Sofia Kenin beat Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6(6) in the first round of the 2026 US Open. The match started after midnight on Arthur Ashe Stadium and finished at 2:01am on Monday 31 August, the latest a first-round match has ever finished at the tournament. The delay came from the five-set men's match that preceded it, Novak Djokovic's.
The second set is the part to keep. Kenin led 4-2. Williams took it to a tiebreak, went 6-2 up in it, and then lost six consecutive points. Across the set she held seven set points in total, three in a row on Kenin's serve and four in a row in the tiebreak, and converted none of them.
Williams is 46. This was her record-extending 26th US Open singles appearance and her 96th Grand Slam appearance, the most by anyone in the Open Era. It is also her second straight first-round exit in New York.
Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, plays the No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula in the second round. Pegula beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2.
Sources: USA TODAY Sports, 31 August 2026, via Yahoo Sports (the 6-2, 7-6(6) score, the 2:01am finish and the latest-first-round-finish record, the seven set points and how they broke down, the 26th US Open and 96th Grand Slam appearance, the Pegula result and second-round tie); TAG24, 31 August 2026 (the same score, Williams at 46, the 4-2 second-set deficit, the 6-2 tiebreak lead and the six straight points).