Venus Suffers Worst Career Loss At US Open; Swiatek, Gauff, Kvitova v Wozniacki Wed.

Venus Williams finally played like her age. On Arthur Ashe at night, the 43-year-old got crushed by qualifier Greet Minnen 6-1, 6-1, and it wasn’t even that close.

The Belgian Minnen had no issues with the slow-footed 7-time Slam winner, using dropshots and angles to ease to one of her biggest wins in just 74 minutes.

“Incredible to play a legend,” Minnen told the crowd. “I have huge respect for her, to be there at 43 years old, it’s amazing.

“She has amazing strokes, amazing serve, so I really tried to play aggressive, make her move as much as possible, even hit a few drop shots, which I’m not used to, but I’ll keep doing it, I think.”

And it was the worst loss at the US Open for Venus who was playing her 100th career match at the event.

“I have to give credit to my opponent,” Venus said after. “I mean, there wasn’t a shot she couldn’t make. Even when I hit really amazing shots, she just hit a winner or a drop shot.

“I don’t think I played badly. I think it was just one of those days where it’s just unlucky.”

Australian Open champion Aryan Sabalenka eased past Maryna Zanevska 6-3, 6-2. The Belarussion is now 18-2 in Slams this year having won her last eight in hard courts in Slams.

Earlier in the day Jessica Pegula pounded Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-2. The Canadian champ has now won her last six against Pegula leading 9-2 overall.

“Camila is always very tough,” Pegula said after. “You never know what you’re going to get. She’s a great ball striker, good athlete, goes for her shots.

“I’ve played her several times this year already, a lot of times throughout my career. I knew what I needed to do, but sometimes it depends as well on how you’re playing and how she’s playing. I think I was able to kind of execute what I wanted to do today.”

Meanwhile, 2022 semifinalist Caroline Garcia’s struggles continued. The French woman fell in her opener to qualifier Yafan Wang 6-4, 6-1. Garcia will now likely fall out of the Top 10.

Elsewhere, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova got off to a good start breezing past Na-Lae Han 6-3, 6-0. Lucia Bronzetti upset No. 12 seed Barbora Krejcikova in straights 6-4, 7-6(7-3). No. 14 Liudmila Samsonova eliminated the United States’s Claire Liu 7-6(7-3), 6-3. Daria Kasatkina rallied from a set to defeat Alycia Parks 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Former finalist Madison Keys overpowered Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-4. The 22nd-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova won arguably the match of the day defeating 2021 finalist Leylah Fernandez 7-6(7-4), 5-7, 6-4. (28y,203r) Sachia Vickery upended (Donna Vekic 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. Karolina Pliskova sent out Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-1, 6-4. And Elina Svitolina had a comfortable win over Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-3, 6-1.

“Any win on the Grand Slam is a happy, happy day because the best players are here, everyone is there trying to beat you, trying to bring their best game,” said Svitolina. “That’s why there’s so many exciting matches on the Grand Slam.”

Wednesday’s will see second round play with No. 1 Iga Swiatek returning to meet Daria Saville. Swiatek is a perfect 1-0 against in their tour-level contests winning in Adelaide in 2022 Adelaide.

No. 4 Elena Rybakina is back to face the Ajla Tomljanovic who is returning from injury.

American star Coco Gauff get another look at rising phenom Mirra Andreeva in an all-teen affair.

No. 10 Karolina Muchova will challenge Magdalena Frech and in the evening on Ashe No. 11 Petra Kvitova will meet the returning Caroline Wozniacki.