(Mason) Venus Williams beat a player from top 20 for the first time in four years, erasing a deficit in every set to win 6-4, 7-5 over Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati tournament on Monday.
The 43-year-old Williams improved her record to 3-5 this year. She started the tournament at 533e world rank.
Williams trailed 4-1 in each of two sets, but came from behind converting six of nine break points in the game. The American also had to negotiate two interruptions due to the rain.
“I just thought I wanted to win that point. Not the game, just a point, said Williams, who advances to the second round in Cincinnati. When you break things down this way, big problems become small problems. That’s how I proceeded. »
PHOTO KIN CHEUNG, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Veronika Kudermetova
The seven-time Grand Slam champion had lost her last 10 matches against an opponent from top 20 since her triumph over Kiki Bertens, fifth in the world, at the Cincinnati tournament in 2019. Kudermetova was the 16e top seed this week.
American Sloane Stephens, the US Open champion, defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5, 6-2. The start of the match was delayed by nearly three hours.
“There’s a lot of adversity,” Stephens said. You handle it as best you can. It’s difficult for everyone. »
The 30-year-old Stephens will now face defending champion Caroline Garcia (No. 6) in the second round.
