muchová ends venus williams' comeback bid in three sets
Returned at 45, Williams bows out in a spirited three-set battle against the 11th seed.
In a memorable return to Grand Slam tennis, 45-year-old Venus Williams, playing her first singles match since 2023, received a standing ovation despite falling to the 11th-seeded Karolína Muchová in the first round at the US Open. The match at Arthur Ashe Stadium unfolded in three exchanges Muchová took the opener 6 3, Williams fought back in the second 62, before Muchová sealed the win 61 in the decider after two hours of fierce tennis. It marks William’s 25th US Open main-draw appearance and 94th Grand Slam match, the latter being a record for any woman in the Open Era. Her performance, though ending in defeat, was a testament to her enduring skill, resilience, and legacy in the sport.)
