After ten defeats in a row
Venus Williams ends four-year losing streak
8/15/2023 7:36 am
Venus Williams has not won against a top 20 opponent since 2019. Two weeks before the start of the US Open, she is now putting an end to this series after ten consecutive defeats. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is looking forward to his US comeback.
Venus Williams has won a tennis match against a player in the top 20 in the world for the first time in four years and reached the second round of the WTA tournament in Cincinnati. The 43-year-old American won against the Russian Veronika Kudermetowa, who was seeded 16th, on Monday (local time) after being 1: 4 behind in both sets 6: 4, 7: 5. Since 2019, the seven-time Grand Slam winner had lost ten games in a row against top 20 players.
“I just said to myself: Win this point, not the game, just this point,” said Serena Williams’ sister after her success two weeks before the start of the US Open. Most recently, she caused a stir in June, just before she competed with a wildcard at Wimbledon. The seven-time Grand Slam winner then won the WTA tournament in Birmingham against the Italian Camila Giorgi – only five women had previously managed to win a singles match on the WTA tour at the age of 43 or older. At the same time, it was her first success over a top 50 player since 2019 – until now.
Meanwhile, Sloane Stephens advanced to the second round of the $2.8 million hard court tournament. She won 7:5, 6:2 against Elisabetta Cocciaretto from Italy and now meets defending champion Caroline Garcia.
For the men, who also stop in Cincinnati on the ATP tour, Felix Auger-Aliassime from Canada defeated the Italian Matteo Berrettini 4: 6, 6: 2, 6: 3. Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is also making his comeback in the USA on Wednesday. The second in the world rankings was not allowed to enter the country in the past two years because of his lack of a Covid 19 vaccination. He was “excited” about his return, Djokovic previously said in a media round.