Venus Williams’ US Open return ends with first-round defeat to Karolína Muchová | US Open Tennis 2025

Venus Williams’ 25th US Open singles appearance ended at the first hurdle with defeat to Karolína Muchová, despite a stirring second-set comeback by the 45-year-old American that briefly threatened an upset at Flushing Meadows.

Muchová, the Czech 11th seed and 2023 French Open runner-up who has twice reached the semi-finals in New York, recovered to take the third set with the loss of just one further game and progress into the second round with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 victory.

Williams, competing in her first grand slam in two years, departed Arthur Ashe Stadium to a warm ovation, with uncertainty over whether she will return as a player to the court where she won two of her seven major singles championships.

Full report to follow.