NEW YORK — Venus Williams delivered a determined performance late Tuesday night at the US Open but fell in straight sets to Sofia Kenin, 6-2, 7-6 (8), in a first-round match that concluded just after midnight on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The match followed a marathon encounter between Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone, which lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion, was eliminated in the opening round of a major for the first time in two decades. The late finish delayed the women’s match as spectators settled in, with the players finally taking the court about 10 minutes past midnight on August 31.

Despite the late hour, both Williams and Kenin opted to remain on Arthur Ashe Stadium rather than move to the smaller Louis Armstrong Stadium as initially planned. Williams, 46, was making her 26th main-draw appearance at the US Open and her 96th Grand Slam appearance overall, the most in the Open era. She entered the tournament with a wild card in both singles and doubles alongside her sister Serena.

Williams struggled early, with her serve broken in successive service games allowing the 27-year-old Kenin to seize a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Williams’ performance was marred by unforced errors and double faults, while Kenin exhibited greater consistency and sharper serving. Both players came into the tournament after challenging seasons — Kenin had won only six of her first 26 matches in 2026, despite her previous successes including the 2020 Australian Open title and a French Open final appearance that same year. Williams was enduring a 15-match singles losing streak for the year.

Kenin’s victory sets up a second-round clash with No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, who defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2. That match is scheduled for September 2. Williams will continue to compete in doubles at the tournament with Serena Williams.