At 12:13 a.m. Eastern on Monday, a first-round match at the U.S. Open between former Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin and Venus Williams set a new record for the latest start time in the tournament's history. The match, which concluded just before 2 a.m., saw Kenin prevail 6-2, 7-6 (8) in a contest that nearly extended into an even later finish amid a late rally by Williams.
Williams, making her 96th main-draw appearance at a major, surpassed the previous record for the latest match start, which was set earlier in the tournament at 12:07 a.m. Her match commenced only after a prolonged delay, resulting from a rain disruption and mechanical issues with the roof sensors at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The roof remained open despite the rain, causing a delay of approximately 90 minutes before Bublik defeated J. J. Wolf in a scheduled match. Following that conclusion, Kenin and Williams, having waited through a lengthy five-set match between Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone, opted to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium rather than Armstrong.
Williams, who has struggled in recent months — entering the tournament on a 14-match losing streak and without a major singles victory since 2021 Wimbledon — faced a challenging start. Kenin, herself enduring a difficult season with a 6-20 singles record, quickly took control by breaking Williams’ serve early to build a 3-0 lead. Despite the late hour and difficult conditions, Williams showed moments of resurgence, notably in the second set where she held several set points (seven in total, including four consecutive opportunities in the tiebreak) but was unable to capitalize.
Referring to the unusual match timing, Williams remarked that starting matches so late is rare across sports and suggested improvements could be made for future schedules. She also expressed appreciation for the fans who remained to watch the night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Following the singles match, Williams will continue competing in doubles alongside her sister Serena Williams. The duo reunited in the doubles draw after competing together recently in Cincinnati, where they staged a near-comeback against the pair Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns. Their partnership on the doubles court comes as they mark the 25th anniversary of their memorable all-Williams singles final at the U.S. Open, a historic encounter won by Venus.
The late-night match highlighted both players’ determination amid challenging circumstances, while underscoring logistical challenges posed by weather and scheduling at the tournament.