Key Takeaways
- Venus Williams dropped to 0-13 in singles competition this year following a 6-2, 6-2 opening-round loss to 18-year-old Lilli Tagger in Guangzhou.
- The 28-year age difference between the 46-year-old Williams and Tagger set a reported WTA Tour record.
- Williams has now lost 16 consecutive tour-level singles matches dating back to July of last year.
Historic age gap highlights Guangzhou Open first round
Venus Williams faced an opening-round exit at the Guangzhou Open on Tuesday, losing 6-2, 6-2 against Austrian teenager Lilli Tagger. The defeat left the 46-year-old American with an 0-13 singles record for the year.
Separated by 28 years, the clash between Williams and the 18-year-old Tagger set a reported record for the largest age difference between competitors in a WTA Tour match. Tagger was born in 2008, the exact season Williams secured the most recent of her 7 Grand Slam singles titles by triumphing at Wimbledon.
Struggles on serve and prolonged slump
Williams, who entered the event holding a world ranking of No. 599, was making her return to competitive singles play following a 2-month absence. Her previous appearance came at the US Open, where she was eliminated in the first round by Sofia Kenin. The loss in China extended her overall singles skid to 16 consecutive defeats dating back to July of last year.
Although both competitors found their range on serve by landing 63% of their first deliveries, Tagger completely dominated behind hers. The 53rd-ranked Austrian won 100% of her first-serve points, while Williams managed to claim only 60%. Over the course of the match, Williams failed to earn a single break point, whereas Tagger converted 4 of the 16 break opportunities she generated.
Early exits continue in Guangzhou
Williams was not the only prominent American to falter early in the tournament. Kenin also bowed out in the round of 32, dropping a tightly contested battle to Kaitlin Quevedo by a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4.
Venus Williams in 2026
Ranked world no.599, the American played her last match on the 27th of October when she surrendered to world no.53 Lilli Tagger 6-2 6-2 in the 1st round in Guangzhou (draw).
At present, during this year the American has managed to achieve a compiled 0-14 record.
