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Sofia Kenin stuns Venus Williams in US Open opener

8/31/2026

42 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Williams Defeated

Venus Williams lost to Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-6(6) in the 2026 US Open first round.
The match started at 12:13 a.m., the latest US Open start, and finished at 2:01 a.m., the latest first-round finish.
Williams' loss marked her 14th consecutive singles defeat and her 96th Grand Slam appearance, an Open Era record.
Kenin earned her first US Open night-session win, improving from 0-5 in previous night matches.

Summary

Sinner Withdraws

Jannik Sinner withdrew from the US Open men’s draw because of a right knee injury.
Carlos Alcaraz returned to competition for the first time since April after his injury.
Jack Draper, Holger Rune and João Fonseca are sidelined by injuries entering the US Open.
Sky Sports panel says Alexander Zverev can capitalize on the open field with Sinner absent and Alcaraz returning.

History

Historical Context

Since moving to the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows in 1978 (later renamed the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center), the US Open has repeatedly altered match timing—from the 2001 prime-time women’s final that set a TV record to the 2025 shift to a Sunday start. Those scheduling experiments set the stage for the 2026 2:01 a.m. Venus-Kenin final and renewed debates over player health.

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Williams Defeated

Venus Williams lost to Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-6(6) in the 2026 US Open first round.
The match started at 12:13 a.m., the latest US Open start, and finished at 2:01 a.m., the latest first-round finish.
Williams' loss marked her 14th consecutive singles defeat and her 96th Grand Slam appearance, an Open Era record.
Kenin earned her first US Open night-session win, improving from 0-5 in previous night matches.

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