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, has not won a singles match since July 2025. Arango, a 25-year-old qualifier from Colombia ranked 95th, took one hour five minutes to secure the victory over Williams at Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Arango broke Williams’ serve in the opening game of the match, setting the tone for her dominant performance. Williams struggled to convert her break opportunities and had a low 41% success rate on first-serve points. In contrast, Arango capitalized on 4 out of 5 break points and won 71% of her first-serve points.
Reflecting on her win, Arango mentioned that taking an early lead helped calm her nerves and allowed her to maintain pressure on Williams. In the next round, Arango is set to face No. 7 seed Iga Swiatek, the defending champion of the Cincinnati tournament.
Despite her recent singles woes, Williams remains upbeat about her game, emphasizing the need for improved consistency in closing out points. This marks Williams’ 11th appearance at the Cincinnati tournament. Following her singles exit, Williams will team up with her sister, Serena, for the doubles event, where they received a wild-card entry. The duo last played together at the 2022 U.S. Open and are scheduled to face Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in the first round.
Looking ahead, Venus Williams is also gearing up to compete in mixed doubles at the upcoming U.S. Open alongside Alexander Bublik. The doubles segment of the Cincinnati Open is set to commence on Sunday, with the Williams sisters eager to make a strong comeback on the court.