Venus Williams bows out in first round of women’s singles at US Open
Serena Williams plays in her final match on Tuesday after her first-round victory over Anastasia Rodionova at the US Open on Wednesday. Venus Williams bows out in first round of women’s singles at US Open
Venus Williams bowed out after a stellar first-round showing at the US Open on Wednesday, becoming the first player to win the tournament in the first round since Serena Williams in 2007.
The five-time Grand Slam champion won a 5-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Rodionova in the first round to move into the second round. Now, Williams will play two wild card matches.
Williams is trying to become the first player since 1996 to reach the second stage of the tournament in the first round. The other major breakthrough came at the 2010 French Open when Simona Halep became No. 1 in the world as soon as she reached the second round. Williams’ record is also better because she won the US Open in 2009 as well as Roland Garros in 2012 and 2015.
The 34-year-old Williams is the 12th seed in the women’s singles draw and will be up against No. 13 seed Maria Sharapova on Friday, No. 14 seed Alizé Cornet on Sunday, and the defending champion, No. 6 seed Madison Keys. Sharapova is a 6-6, 6-2 No. 3 seed, while Keys is playing as a No. 4 with the world ranking at No. 24.
It is Williams’ 24th Grand Slam since winning the US Open in 2009 and 20th in the women’s Singles draw. She has won the French Open in 2011, Wimbledon in 2013, U.S. Open in 2016, The Australian Open in 2014 and The Australian Open in 2015.
While the two American girls share the same name, Rodionova has been a more consistent player on hard courts than Williams. Williams has won 16 consecutive matches on the hard courts, including three titles on the Grand Slams.
Rodionova struggled in her opening-round loss to Germany’s Stefanie Voegele, but made up some ground in her second-round opener against
