Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 8th August 2025, 3:10 PM
Venus Williams was unable to progress past the opening round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open, falling 6-4, 6-4 to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Thursday, despite staging an early fightback in the first set.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion, now aged 45, rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the opening set, but struggled to sustain momentum against the younger opponent. This match marked just her second appearance in three weeks since returning to the WTA tour at Washington, her first tournament in 16 months.
In Washington, she had managed a first-round win, but was eliminated in straight sets by Poland’s Magdalena Fręch in the following round.
Venus Williams in Cincinnati:
| Year | Performance |
| 2012 | Semi-finals |
| 2023 | Second Round (lost to Zheng Qinwen) |
| 2024 | First Round (lost to Bouzas Maneiro) |
| Appearances | 11 total |
Match Summary:
| Player | Set 1 | Set 2 | Result |
| Jessica Bouzas Maneiro | 6 | 6 | ✅ Won |
| Venus Williams | 4 | 4 | ❌ Lost |
Match Duration: 87 minutes
Venue: Cincinnati Open – Joint ATP-WTA Tournament
Surface: Hard Court
Quotes from Jessica Bouzas Maneiro:
“It was not easy at all. She’s a legend, it was a privilege to play against her.”
“It felt like a dream. I never imagined I would play Venus. She hits so hard — I had no rhythm. I had to stay positive and intense to win.”
The 22-year-old Spaniard, currently ranked No. 51, said the occasion was thrilling, given that the event is the final major lead-up to the US Open, which begins on 25 August.
Venus Williams’ Recent Remarks:
Williams, who returned to professional tennis after recovering from a serious health scare involving surgery for uterine fibroids, expressed gratitude for her ability to play once more.
“I’m in a completely different space and I have a clean bill of health, thank God.”
ATP Masters Results – Additional Matches:
| Match | Score | Notable Moments |
| Joao Fonseca (BRA) def. Bu Yunchaokete (CHN) | 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 | Fonseca battled through 18 unforced errors and snapped a three-match losing streak |
| Zizou Bergs (BEL) def. Jakob Fearnley (GBR) | 6-1, 6-4 | Dominant straight-sets win |
| Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) – Win | Not specified | Progressed to next round |
| Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) – Win | Not specified | Advanced in the draw |
Joao Fonseca admitted his form was shaky:
“I was struggling a lot, missing a lot of shots, not feeling my best. But I kept believing and got the opportunity. I’m very happy with how I stayed in it.”
The Cincinnati Open continues to shape narratives heading into the US Open, with established legends making emotional returns and rising stars seizing their moments on the big stage.
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