Sofia Kenin, aged 27, triumphed over Venus Williams, 46, with a score of 6-2, 7-6(6) in the opening round of the US Open. This victory places Kenin among a select group, becoming the 16th tennis player to have defeated both Venus and Serena Williams in Grand Slam tournaments.
The win is particularly significant at the US Open, a venue historically dominated by the Williams sisters. In her next match, Kenin will face Jessica Pegula, ranked 3rd in the world, which presents a tougher challenge.
Sofia Kenin’s Historic Performance
Kenin’s victory over Venus marks a notable moment, as her previous win against Serena Williams occurred during her 2020 Australian Open run, where she won the title after defeating Serena in the third round with a score of 6-2, 7-5, and ultimately clinched her first Grand Slam title by overcoming Garbine Muguruza in the final.
The elite group of players who have previously conquered both Williams sisters includes legends such as Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Hingis, Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova, Ekaterina Makarova, Ana Ivanovic, Sloane Stephens, Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep, and Qiang Wang, according to reports.
Simona Halep notably defeated Serena Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon final in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, and also bested Venus at the Australian Open the same year in the third round, with a score of 6-2, 6-3.
