Cincinnati-Venus Williams, who returned to Tennis last month after he was away from the sport for more than a year, lost to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday in the first round of the Cincinnati Open.
Then for the sevenfold Grand Slam Singles champion, the US is open, where she received a wildcard entry with Reilly Opelka to play Mixed Doubles from 19 August. Williams has won 14 Grand Slam Doubles titles with her sister Serena and a two in mixed Doubles.
“From this competition, I feel great,” said Williams. “So that means that in this next period [ahead of the US Open] I don’t have to solve any injuries. Now I can work on strength and speed instead of trying to ensure that I have not hurt to enter the tournament. “
The 51st ranking Bouzas Maleiro, who was not born when Williams won her first four Grand Slam titles, continued last week to her first WTA 1000 quarter-final match in Montreal.
With the crowd by her side, Williams pushed the 22-year-old Spaniard but struggled with her service game.
Williams, who has been removed from the womb operation for a year, became the oldest woman who won a WTA match in more than two decades when she beat Peyton Stearns on the DC Open last month. It was her first tournament in 16 months and her first victory since the 2023 Cincinnati open.
“I think there were times when I worked through the nodding, but I think there was never a moment when I didn’t go for it,” said Williams. “I certainly see many positives for today and I think I just come back, not everything will be perfect, but many great things today.”
Williams opened her 11th performance in the Cincinnati, where she reached the semi -final in 2012 and in 2019 in the quarterfinals. She has arranged number 1 for 11 weeks.
ESPN’s D’Arcy Maine and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
#Venus #disappeared #straight #sets #Cincinnati #opener