Cincinnati Open: Venus Williams wins against Veronika Kudermetova, faces Qinwen Zheng or Aliaksandra Sasnovich next

Posted : 15 August 2023

Venus Williams, the experienced American tennis player, secured her first victory against a top-20 opponent in four years as she triumphed over Russia's Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati tournament.

At 43 years old, Williams displayed her tenacity by overcoming a double break deficit in each set, ultimately winning 6-4, 7-5 against the 16th-ranked Kudermetova.

With a radiant smile, the seven-time major singles champion celebrated her triumph, marking her first victory at a US tournament in over three years.

"I have a deep love for this game; it's my passion," Williams stated, emphasizing her dedication to tennis. Despite battling injuries in recent years, she expressed her joy at being on the court and reclaiming her strength. "I'm making progress."

In the next round, Williams is set to face either China's Qinwen Zheng or Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Looking forward, the former world number one aims to achieve consecutive victories on the WTA Tour for the first time since the 2019 Cincinnati event. This victory also marks her first win against a top-20 player since her triumph over Kiki Bertens, the former world number five, during the same tournament in 2019.

As the action continued, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova prepared to take on fellow Czech player Katerina Siniakova. Additionally, Danish former number one Caroline Wozniacki, who is making a comeback after retirement, was scheduled to play against France's Varvara Gracheva. However, Wozniacki's original opponent, Elina Svitolina, withdrew due to a foot injury.

In the men's draw, British number two Dan Evans was set to face Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in his opening match.

The Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati holds significant importance in the American hard-court swing leading up to the US Open, the final Grand Slam event of the season, which is scheduled to begin on August 28th.

Amidst these developments, British women's number two Jodie Burrage secured her spot in the main draw at Flushing Meadows with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russian fifth seed Diana Shnaider at the Golden Gate Open. On the other hand, Heather Watson faced a setback, losing 6-2, 6-4 to Belarusian player Iryna Shymanovich at the Californian event.

Cincinnati Open: Venus Williams wins against Veronika Kudermetova, faces Qinwen Zheng or Aliaksandra Sasnovich next

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