Venus Williams falls in Cincinnati but keeps the comeback alive

Venus Williams, at 45, shows resilience in Cincinnati after a long break, hinting at a possible US Open bid.

Venus Williams loses in Cincinnati but proves a winner

Venus Williams was eliminated from the Cincinnati Open in the round of 16 by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 4-6 4-6. The 45 year old played with energy on Center Court, drawing cheers from fans and from her sister Serena, but the Spaniard kept the pressure and controlled key rallies. Williams has been back for only a few matches after a long layoff and showed enough movement and power to remind onlookers that she remains a threat when healthy.

The run follows a recent comeback from a 16 month pause. In Washington she defeated Peyton Stearns in the first round (6-3 6-4) to become the oldest WTA winner since Martina Navratilova 21 years earlier, before losing to Magdalena Frech in the next round. Williams had hoped to reach the quarterfinals in Washington, a milestone that would have marked a new age record. After the Washington win she said, it was not the result she wanted but she could not be happier. In Cincinnati she again showed strong movement on the court, hit depth from the baseline, but could not generate enough winners against a focused Bouzas Maneiro. She finished after 1 hour 27 minutes with a smile at the net as she congratulated her opponent.

Williams frames her return as a larger statement about perseverance. The Cincinnati result is less about the score and more about carving space for a longer career that defies typical aging patterns in tennis. The crowd reaction and her own willingness to chase every point highlight how a personal comeback can energize fans and shift how we talk about age in sport. At a cultural level, her openness about health struggles adds another layer to the narrative, turning her on court battles into a public conversation about resilience and care.

The health disclosures also raise questions about privacy and media focus on athletes private lives when the sport is the main stage. Williams has used her platform to encourage other women to push through setbacks, a move that can inspire but also invite scrutiny. If she plays the US Open, her return would further complicate expectations around performance, age and the meaning of a successful comeback in a sport that prizes peak pace and peak results.

Highlights

Her journey is still unfolding and the next match could redefine the ending of this chapter.