Venus exits with a smile as comeback falters in Canada

Venus Williams went down fighting as the 45-year-old lost a first-round match at the Cincinnati Open on Thursday to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-4.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion won a round in Washington in recent weeks as she began a self-styled comeback after a competitive absence of nearly 18 months.

“I had so much fun out there, and there were definitely moments where I had a lot of chances,” she said..

“I thought she played super well. I have to definitely give her a lot of credit.

“I see a lot of positives for today (even if) everything is going to be perfect.”

Williams added: “It’s hard for me to be upset,” I know that I lost this match because I just, I need more matches.

“I could have played better. But the thing I feel good about is that I did go for it.

“It’s not that I didn’t know what to do. It’s just that I need to keep working on it.”

The 51st-ranked Bouzas Maneiro was thrilled to have shared the court with the icon.

“It was not easy at all,” the winner said.”She’s a legend, it was a privilege to play against her” in the 87 minute victory.

“I never thought that I would ever play Venus,” the 22-year-old said. “I was just lucky with that.

“I tried to have a lot of intensity, but I had no rhythm. She hits so hard. I tried to focus. I had to be positive to win the points.”

Williams owns a 2012 Cincinnati semi-final and played the event for a 10th time in 2023.