US Open: Venus Williams and Keys Bow Out as Alcaraz Launches Campaign
The first round of the US Open delivered a mix of heartbreak and anticipation as veteran Venus Williams and rising star Madison Keys faced unexpected exits, while Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz began his title defense in style.
In a highly anticipated match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, 45-year-old Venus Williams fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to 11th seed Karolina Muchova in three sets, finishing with a scoreline of 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. This marked Williams’ return to Grand Slam tennis after a 16-month hiatus, during which she received a wild card entry to the tournament. Despite her defeat, Williams expressed pride in her performance, stating, “I didn’t win today but I’m very proud of the way I played.” She received overwhelming support from the crowd, which she found deeply moving.
In a shocking turn of events, Madison Keys, the sixth seed and Australian Open champion, fell to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua. The match ended in a nail-biting fashion, with scores of 6-7 (10/12), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5. Keys admitted that nerves got the better of her, saying, “I was just slow, I wasn’t seeing things the way that I wanted to, which I feel like resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork.”
As the night session unfolded, all eyes were on Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old second seed, who showcased a bold new military-style crewcut. He faced big-serving American Reilly Opelka, aiming to secure his second US Open title following his remarkable victory in 2022.
The first round also saw the farewell of two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who ended her career after a 6-1, 6-0 defeat to France’s Diane Parry. Overcome with emotion, Kvitova addressed her fans in tears, reflecting on her journey. “I hoped I would put on a better show today,” she said, acknowledging the weight of the moment.
In other notable matches, qualifier Coleman Wong made history by becoming the first player from Hong Kong to win a Grand Slam singles match in the Open era, defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4). This victory adds to the impressive performances from young Asian players at this year’s tournament.
British fifth seed Jack Draper advanced after a four-set battle against Argentina’s Federico Gomez, while Norway’s 12th seed Casper Ruud and US 17th seed Frances Tiafoe also secured their spots in the next round.
