Former champion Venus Williams suffers early US Open exit
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Venus Williams suffered her most lopsided loss in 24 appearances at the Grand Slam with a 6-1, 6-1 defeat.
PHOTO: REUTERS
NEW YORK – Two-time US Open champion Venus Williams said she was unlucky as she suffered her most lopsided loss in 24 appearances at the Grand Slam with a 6-1, 6-1 defeat by Greet Minnen in the first round on Tuesday.
The Belgian qualifier smacked 24 winners and saved all six break points she faced to dispatch 43-year-old veteran American Williams, whom she reveres.
“In 1997, Venus already played a final here and I was just born, so for me it was incredible to play a legend like her,” the 26-year-old Minnen said in an on-court interview. “I have huge respect for her.”
Former world No. 1 Williams’ best chance of climbing back into the contest came when she had a break-point opportunity in the opening game of the second set but she failed to convert.
The hard-hitting Minnen broke the next game at love and cruised to victory in the match that lasted just 74 minutes.
“First, I have to give credit to my opponent,” Williams said.
“There wasn’t a shot she couldn’t make. Even when I hit really amazing shots, she just hit a winner or a drop shot, so I don’t think I played badly. I think it was just one of those days where it’s just unlucky.”
The seven-time Grand Slam winner, whose younger sister Serena retired after the 2022 US Open with 23 Grand Slam titles, said she was prepared to come to Flushing Meadows without her sibling playing.
“I was very much aware that Serena wouldn’t be playing the tournament, so I think I was okay. I’ve had a chance to get used to that idea even before she retired,” she said. “I kind of knew that was coming.”
Asked when she might hang up her racket, Williams was non-committal.
“I wouldn’t tell you,” she said with a smile. “I don’t know. I don’t know why you’re asking.”
Meanwhile, Caroline Garcia’s hopes of making another deep run at the US Open came to a quick end as the French seventh seed suffered a shock 6-4, 6-1 first-round loss to Chinese qualifier Wang Yafan.
France’s Caroline Garcia (pictured) suffered a shock 6-4, 6-1 first-round loss to Chinese qualifier Wang Yafan.
Garcia, a semi-finalist in New York last season who went on to claim the biggest title of her career two months later at the WTA Finals, was undone by 34 unforced errors against her world No. 114 opponent.
With the loss, she will fall from the top 10 of the rankings to outside the top 20.
Wang, a former world No. 47 who missed seven months of action in 2022 and was ranked 696th in March, has a 57-10 record across all levels this year, including titles in five ITF events and the WTA 125 tournament in Stanford two weeks ago. REUTERS
