Venus Williams, 45, falls on Carolina Muclova in 3 sets on US Open

New York – that Venus Williams She lost her first Grand Slam Slam in two years – and what she says she’ll be her last match 2025. – It doesn’t matter Monday night.

Certainly not until thousands of supporting spectators in Arthur Ashe Stadium, who demanded for their best shots and, in a way, for all that her career means for them, before a defeat of 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. Karolina in civilian to US Open.

The result also certainly seemed in addition to Williams, at the 45 oldest Singles of players in the rinsing of meadows since 1981. years. She smiled and laughed through her conference on postmatch – as long as it was, the reporter asked everything for years to deal with years.

“Oh, what did I prove myself?” Williams started, repeating part of the question. “I think it’s up to me, I’m going on my chance to play healthier. When you play unhealthy. It’s not just how you feel. So you’re nice. Well, it’s nice to be everyone.”

As she spoke that last few words, Williams leaned her head and closed her eyes, which they caught with tears. After a few seconds of silence, the tournament moderator finished the K-I-A session and Williams stood up from his seat on the front of the room.

It is only a fourth single game of return that began in July after 16 months of the tennis tour, the time was marked by the mother’s fibroid pain for last year.

“My team and I worked so hard and as quickly. I didn’t take any free days. I didn’t get anything but the coaches, I said, I didn’t try and learn and learn from it, and then I’m better.”

She did not won the game in the United States open in the Single since 2019. year, when it arrived in the second round. Since then, Williams went out in the first round in the first round of 2020. year, 2022. and 2023. years and missed the tournament in 2021 and 2024. Years.

Go back in the arena so much on yourself – and that look at.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a crowd so on my side,” Williams said, who appreciated support and shouting “Let’s go, Venus!” It came from stands, even while 11 years of night 13 points fell. “I knew I went into this match that people were at this stadium, people in the United States, people around the world, really for me and they felt great.”

This event has a special place in its career. Her first final Grand Slam came to us open in 1997. years, when she was 17 years old. She won two of the seven championships there 2000. And 2001. years.

And that was more than a decade that Williams pulled before it was supposed to play in the second round, revealing that Sjogren’s syndrome was diagnosed with a autoimmune disease that could cause pain in the joints.

Some thought she could leave tennis because of that, but she remained leading figure – on the field.

“She’s such a legend about our sport,” said 2023 French open runner Muclov, said it was an honorable court “to share the court with her.”

Muclova, 29-year-olds from the Czech Republic, arrived at the semifinals in New York in both 2023. Years – when she lost on possible champion Coco Gauff In the match interrupted by climatic protests – and 2024.

Well maybe it wasn’t surprising that Williams started slowly. But with her fiancé, Andrea threatens from the seat after many points, Williams returned to the match, hitting the vintage serves up to 114 mph and ends with only one smaller winner than Mucova.

In the third set, however, because the competition reached two hours, muclova was simply too good.

Since 1994. he made his professional debut in 1994. year, Williams achieved quite everything that can be in tennis. There are 14 grand Slam trophies in women’s pairs, with her younger sister, Serena, plus two in mixed pairs. Record five Olympic tennis medals. Weather in No. 1 In the VTA ranking.

Both siblings overcome their sport and became much more than successful athletes. Serena, which won 23 Grand Slam Singles titles, played the last match outdoors 2022. years.

“She’s Venus Williams. She is so iconic in so many different ways,” he said Frances TiafoeThe American player who previously won in his first match in Ashe earlier on Monday. “She won so much. And to see how much he loves the game is still amazing. It’s amazing we’re still seeing her here.”

It is unclear what the future is holding. Williams said he did not want to travel to the tournaments outside the country; After being opened now, the tour moves to Asia.

When she asked at the Washington tournament, why she still competed, she offered a simple answer: “Why not?”