Venus Williams Beats Top-20 Player For First Time in Four Years, Advances in Cincinnati

Tennis legend Venus Williams made a stunning return to the winner’s circle at the Western & Southern Open on Monday, securing a thrilling victory over the 16th-ranked Veronika Kudermetova. Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, demonstrated her remarkable resilience as she battled back from significant deficits in both sets, triumphing 6-4, 7-5 in the first round of the tournament.

The 43-year-old Williams, ranked 533rd coming into the event, showed the world that her competitive fire still burns bright. Facing a 4-1 deficit in each set, Williams remained unyielding, executing impressive rallies and converting six of nine break points throughout the match. Notably, she faced the added challenge of enduring two rain delays during her performance.

Reflecting on her mindset during the intense match, Williams shared, “I just kept telling myself, ‘I just want to win this point – not the match, just one point.’ When you break things down like that, big problems become small problems. That’s how I did that.”

This victory marked a significant milestone for Williams, as she secured her first win over a top-20 player in four years. Her last triumph against such a high-ranked opponent was in 2019 when she defeated then-No. 5 Kiki Bertens in Cincinnati.

In another compelling matchup, American tennis star Sloane Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, overcame challenges to outlast Elisabetta Cocciaretto with a score of 7-5, 6-2. The start of the match was delayed by 2 hours and 44 minutes, underscoring the unpredictable nature of professional tennis.

Speaking about the challenges faced by players in managing adverse conditions, Stephens noted, “There’s a lot of adversity. You manage it the best you can. It’s tough for everyone.”

Next up for the 30-year-old Stephens is a second-round encounter with defending champion and No. 6 seed Caroline Garcia, promising another exciting showdown.

In the men’s division, No. 12 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime demonstrated his mettle by overcoming Matteo Berrettini in a three-set match. The Canadian player, who reached the U.S. Open semifinals two years ago, clinched victory with a final score of 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Auger-Aliassime’s victory marked a significant improvement in his recent form, as he notched his third win in the last 11 matches.

As the Western & Southern Open continues to unfold, fans can anticipate more exhilarating battles and extraordinary comebacks that characterize the spirit of professional tennis.