Venus Williams loses 10th consecutive singles match at Madrid Open
Former world number one Venus Williams has suffered her 10th consecutive singles defeat after losing 6-2 6-4 to Kaitlin Quevedo at the Madrid Open.
The 45-year-old is the first former top-ranked player to endure such a losing streak since the WTA rankings were established in 1975.
The veteran American last secured a victory in July when she defeated compatriot Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open.
Her latest opponent in the Spanish capital, a 20-year-old wildcard, was making her debut appearance in a WTA 1000 level match.
Record-breaking career overshadowed by recent struggles
Quevedo, ranked 140th in the world, mounted an impressive comeback from 3-0 down in the second set to secure the biggest win of her young career.
The young Spaniard was not even born when the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion had already claimed six of her major titles.
Despite her current difficult run of form, the tennis icon holds the all-time record for Grand Slam appearances with 95 tournament entries.
Questions surround the Williams sisters’ tennis futures
The five-time Wimbledon winner has shown incredible longevity in the sport, but this unprecedented milestone will inevitably raise questions about potential retirement.
Meanwhile, her younger sister Serena has not competed since the 2022 US Open despite remaining unofficially active.
The 23-time major winner recently re-entered the out-of-competition drug testing pool, although no official comeback plans have been announced.
