WHAT HAPPENED
Sofia Kenin defeated Venus Williams by winning the final six points of their 2026 US Open first-round match, saving seven set points in the second set.
Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, escaped with a 6-2, 7-6(6) victory to set up a second-round meeting with Jessica Pegula.
After Novak Djokovic was upset earlier on Sunday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium, opening night featured another legendary former US Open champion as Williams graced Flushing Meadows for the 26th time. But Kenin showed her own Grand Slam pedigree in an entertaining all-American matchup that lasted one hour, 48 minutes.
Jumping out to a 6-2, 4-2 lead, Kenin looked to be cruising toward Round 2 until Venus turned back the clock. The 46-year-old surged ahead in a thrilling second set, earned three set points on return at 5-4 and ultimately forced a tiebreak.
Venus raced to a 6-2 lead in the tiebreak, but Kenin’s hustle and tenacity proved to be the difference as she made Venus play one extra ball time and again. Combining grit with well-timed aggression, she rattled off six straight points to win the match.
WHAT IT MEANS
The theme for Kenin is the number two. Her two-set victory over Venus, a two-time US Open champion, sends her to Round 2 where she will play Pegula. This will be the second time that Kenin and Pegula will match up in Flushing Meadows. The last time, it was a two-set victory for Pegula, also in Round 2, two years ago at the 2024 US Open.
MATCH POINT
Kenin’s success on second-serve points was the difference. Kenin won 52% of second-serve points on her own serve and 61% on Venus’ serve. She also converted four break-point opportunities to move past the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion.