Venus Williams Loses in 1st Round of Cincinnati Open Ahead of US Open Mixed Doubles

Venus Williams fell in the first round of the Cincinnati Open on Thursday to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets (6-4, 6-4).

The 45-year-old Williams is embarking on an incredible comeback after being away from competition for 16 months.

Williams revealed that she had surgery on Aug. 1, 2024. Specifically, the seven-time Grand Slam singles winner said she had "an open myomectomy to remove fibroids and a large focal adenomyoma that was embedded in the muscle of my uterus."

Thankfully, Williams is now OK. Her last appearance before the break was at the Miami Open in March 2024. However, she returned in July 2025 for the DC Open. Williams even beat Peyton Stearns in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) in the first round before losing to No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2 in her next match.

Williams will now look ahead to the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, which will take place on August 19 and 20. She will compete in the 16-team tournament with Reilly Opelka.

Williams has enjoyed great success in doubles alongside sister Serena Williams, winning 14 Grand Slams in that competition over her career. She also won the 1998 Australian Open and 1998 French Open in mixed doubles with Justin Gimelstob.