Sofia Kenin emerged victorious in a dramatic late-night encounter against Venus Williams at the 2026 US Open, securing a hard-fought first-round win. The match, which concluded after midnight on Arthur Ashe Stadium, saw Kenin prevail 6-2, 7-6(6) after saving seven set points in a tense second set. Williams, a two-time US Open champion, graced the Flushing Meadows courts for the 26th time in her illustrious career, but Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, showcased her Grand Slam pedigree to advance.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the match began 13 minutes past midnight, with Kenin swiftly taking the first set. Williams, the 46-year-old wildcard, rallied in the second set, forcing a tiebreak after being down 4-2, but Kenin’s resilience and aggressive play ultimately secured her passage to the second round. This victory sets up a second-round clash for Kenin against fellow American Jessica Pegula, the third seed.
The match’s late start was a consequence of a preceding lengthy encounter, highlighting the demanding schedule of the Grand Slam tournament. Venus Williams’s participation at 46 years old makes her the oldest woman to compete in the US Open singles main draw since Renée Richards in 1981. Despite the singles exit, Williams is set to compete in the doubles tournament alongside her sister Serena Williams, both having received wildcards.
Elsewhere in the women’s singles, ninth seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine demonstrated a dominant performance, defeating Solana Sierra of Argentina 6-1, 6-2 in just 51 minutes. Svitolina’s efficient play and powerful groundstrokes proved too much for the 22-year-old Argentine, who had reached the third round of the French Open earlier in the year.
The 2026 US Open women’s singles draw features a strong field of contenders, including defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, top-seeded American Jessica Pegula, and 2026 Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Several American women, including Pegula and Coco Gauff, are seen as having strong chances to advance deep into the tournament, with the potential for an all-American final. The draw also marks milestones, such as Kristina Liutova being the first female player born in the 2010s to compete in a major singles main draw.
The WTA No. 1 singles ranking is also a point of contention, with Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff all in contention. Rybakina could secure the top ranking by reaching the semifinals, while Sabalenka can retain it. Pegula and Gauff can only achieve the No. 1 ranking if they win the title and Rybakina does not reach the semifinals.
The US Open, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, is played on outdoor hard courts and is the final Grand Slam event of the season. The tournament features a 128-player singles draw and a 64-team doubles draw, with a total prize money commitment of $48,980,000.
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