On April 21, 2026, Venus Williams, the iconic and talented former world No. 1, expressed her ambitions to participate in the upcoming French Open following a challenging defeat at the Madrid Open. At 45 years old, Williams faced 20-year-old Kaitlin Quevedo and succumbed to a score of 6-2, 6-4, marking her tenth consecutive loss in singles competition.
In her post-match interview, Williams shared her thoughts on the match and her future plans. “To get my feet dirty, this was a great start,” she remarked, reflecting on her return to the clay courts after a lengthy absence. Unfortunately, she noted that due to prior commitments, she would not be able to compete in the Rome tournament, a situation that brought her great disappointment, especially given her husband’s Italian roots. “We feel sad that we can’t be there. So we would love to keep it going on the clay,” she added.
Her recent participation in Madrid was her first in five years, and the match against Quevedo was particularly significant, as Williams had not competed on clay since suffering a first-round exit against Ekaterina Alexandrova at the 2021 French Open. Despite the loss, Williams remained optimistic about her performance. “All these things take adjustments. I started my practice on clay a couple weeks after Miami. I haven’t really played on clay in years. But I enjoy the clay; it’s fun. I played against a very inspired opponent today,” she reflected.
Williams’ last victory on tour came during a WTA 500 event in Washington, D.C., in July 2025, where she triumphed over Peyton Stearns in the round of 16. Since that win, she has encountered a series of defeats at multiple tournaments, including Auckland, Hobart, the Australian Open, Austin, Indian Wells, and Miami.
For Quevedo, the match against such a legendary player was a moment of great accomplishment. This victory marked her first main-draw win at a WTA 1000 event and only the second overall in her fledgling career. The young Spaniard became the youngest player from Spain to achieve this milestone at the Madrid Open. “I was so surprised,” Quevedo admitted. “I didn’t know that was going to happen. I’m just really happy that I was able to play against such a legend on this amazing court for the first time. It was a privilege, and I’m just really happy to be here.”
As both players reflect on this match, Williams continues to strive towards her aspirations, while Quevedo celebrates the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career in tennis. The tennis world watches closely, eager for what lies ahead as both navigate their paths in the sport.
