Venus Williams was unable to make a winning return in her first match at the US Open since 2023.
Williams was awarded a US Open wildcard this year, with the two-time former champion recently returning to tennis after a 16 month absence.
The 45-year-old has endured mixed results in her comeback, but Williams did make history at the Washington Open after beating Peyton Stearns.
There are not many things Williams is yet to experience in her decorated career, but she has admitted that it happened in her first round US Open defeat to Karolina Muchova.
Venus Williams admits she had never felt a crowd so on her side before
Williams had been handed a difficult first round draw at the US Open, playing against former Roland Garros finalist and 11th seed Muchova.
Despite putting up a strong fight, Williams was beaten by Muchova, 6-3 2-6 6-1, in the night session match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Williams has not won a match at the US Open since 2019, but admitted that she felt more support than ever before when speaking in her post-match press conference.
“I didn’t win today but I’m very proud of how I played,” said Williams. “The lights are very bright out there. I don’t think I have ever had a crowd that much on my side. When I lost those first two games, they were just still right there with me every point.
“It did not matter if I was losing and it was starting to roll fast, they were just right there with me and it felt great. I knew going into this match that people in the stadium and people in the United States and around the world were really rooting for me. That felt great to have that kind of support.”
Venus Williams makes Grand Slam history despite first round defeat
Williams may not have won a Grand Slam match since Wimbledon in 2021, but she has still continued to make more tennis history.
At 45 years and 68 days, Williams has become the third oldest WTA player in history to play a Grand Slam match in the Open Era.
The only two women older than Williams to play a Grand Slam match are 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova and former top 20 player Renee Richards.
Richards won her last Grand Slam match at 46 years old, playing her final match at the US Open a year later where she lost in the first round.
While Navratilova won a Grand Slam match at 47 years old, at the same tournament where she played her final ever major singles match.
It is currently unclear as to what the future holds for Williams or whether she will ever win a Grand Slam match again.
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