No new feat for Venus Williams, defeated by Bouzas Maneiro in Cincinnati

At 45 years old, Venus Williams participated this Thursday for the twelfth time in her career at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati thanks to a wild card.

This invitation had been granted following her first-round victory in Washington against Peyton Stearns.

For her first-round match in Ohio, the elder Williams sister faced Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 51st in the world and a quarterfinalist last weekend in Montreal.

Trailing in both sets, she managed to level the score each time. But Bouzas Maneiro tightened her game at 4-4 in both sets to ultimately win 6-4, 6-4 in 1 hour and 26 minutes. The Spaniard, in good form since her Wimbledon quarterfinal, will face Leylah Fernandez in the second round.

For Venus Williams, the next event is none other than the new mixed doubles competition at the US Open (August 19-20). She will compete alongside Reilly Opelka.