Williams Falls to Bouzas Maneiro in Cincinnati Open Return

Venus Williams, returning to tennis after a year-long absence, was defeated by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain in the first round of the Cincinnati Open. The final score was 6-4, 6-4.

Williams acknowledged that her comeback wouldn't be flawless. She noted improvements in her physical condition following her participation in the DC Open, where she played four matches in four days. She felt positive about her physical state after the match.

The next event for the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion is the US Open. She will be participating in mixed doubles with Reilly Opelka, starting on August 19th, thanks to a wild-card entry. Williams has a strong doubles record, having won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Serena and two mixed doubles titles.

Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 51st, had not been born when Williams won her first four Grand Slam titles. Bouzas Maneiro had recently reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal match in Montreal. This was their first time playing against each other.

Bouzas Maneiro expressed her admiration for Williams, calling her a legend and an inspiration for young players. She stated that it was a privilege to play against her.

Despite the crowd's support, Williams struggled with her service game. Williams praised Bouzas Maneiro's performance, predicting a bright future for her. Williams mentioned she was trying to improve quickly but ran out of time. She felt good going into the match.

Williams, who had uterine surgery a year prior, had become the oldest woman to win a WTA match in over two decades when she defeated Peyton Stearns at the DC Open last month. This was her first tournament in 16 months and her first victory since the 2023 Cincinnati Open.

This was Williams' 11th appearance at the Cincinnati Open, where she reached the semifinals in 2012 and the quarterfinals in 2019. She has held the No. 1 ranking for 11 weeks.

Williams said she enjoyed the match, despite the challenges. She mentioned having opportunities and working through difficulties, but always giving her best effort.