Venus Williams loses in Cincinnati, streak reaches 13

Venus Williams’ winless run in singles continued at the Cincinnati Open after the seven-time major champion was eliminated in the first round, extending her losing streak to 13 matches.

Williams, 46, was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by Colombian qualifier Emiliana Arango on Friday, August 15, 2026. Officials said the match lasted 65 minutes at the Lindner Tennis Center, where Williams had entered the WTA 1000 tournament with a wild-card invitation.

First-round match turns on break points and serving First-round match turns on break points and serving Venus Williams The contest tilted decisively on key points. Arango converted four of five break-point opportunities, while Williams did not take her only break chance, according to match statistics. Arango also posted a 71% first-serve success rate, compared with 41% for Williams, underscoring the serving gap that shaped many of the games. Singles results remain a major hurdle The defeat leaves Williams without a singles win since July 2025. The match in Cincinnati also continued what was described as a prolonged competitive decline for the former world number one. Officials noted that Williams’ most recent singles victory came in Washington last year, where she defeated Peyton Stearns.

Williams set to play doubles with Serena Williams

Despite the early exit in singles, Williams is scheduled to remain in the tournament in doubles. Officials said she is expected to partner her sister, Serena Williams, with their opening match set for Sunday. Williams is also confirmed to compete in mixed Williams is also confirmed to compete in mixed doubles at the upcoming US Open. Her entries in doubles and mixed doubles keep her active on the tour even as her singles results remain difficult.

The Cincinnati Open is part of the WTA 1000 tier, and wild-card entries can draw added attention because they place established names into top-level events regardless of recent form. For Williams, the immediate focus now shifts to team formats in Cincinnati and then to mixed doubles at the US Open.