Venus Williams suffers 15th consecutive singles defeat at US Open

Venus Williams suffered her 15th consecutive singles defeat after losing to fellow American Sofia Kenin in a late-night first-round match at the US Open, Sporting Tribune reports.

The 46-year-old pushed the 2020 Australian Open champion in the second set but fell 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) in a match that started at 00:13 local time, the latest in US Open history. Williams, who received her 12th wildcard of the season, called the late start “not ideal.” Tournament director Karl Hale defended the wildcard, while former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said it should have gone to a younger player.