US Open 2025: Venus Williams vs Karolina Muchova score and latest updates

Venus Williams fell short of causing an upset at the US Open, but reminded those on the tour of her skill by taking a set off world number 12 Karolina Muchova.

In a tough draw against last year’s semi-finalist, Williams took a while to get going in a match that finished 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.

Williams impressed the crowd on her return to the US Open for the first time in two years, but she had not won a match at her home slam since 2019.

Having burst onto the scene at Flushing Meadows as a 17-year-old back in 1997, the first year of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, it is almost inconceivable that she is still playing professional tennis, let alone taking a set off a seeded player.

It was a record-extending 25th appearance at the US Open for Williams, who spoke before the match about how much she loves her “job” and that the sport is part of her DNA.

It was a surprise to many in the tennis world when she came out of “retirement” – she had gone an entire year without competing and was therefore considered an inactive player – to compete at the Washington Open this year.

There, she managed to beat Peyton Sears, but securing a victory against Muchova, a player seeded 11th in the tournament, was always going to be a different ask.

Venus Williams’s return comes to an end

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It was not quite the fairytale return that Venus Williams might have wanted, but she played some impressive tennis.

By taking the second set she reminded those on tour of her talents, even if it might be a while before she decides to return to the match court again.

Good evening and good night.

Karolina Muchova knocks Venus Williams out of the US Open

Muchova is serving out for the match and starts in ideal fashion, with an ace down the middle T.

After another yelp, Muchova has three match points, although she only needs the first one with a strong serve and volley combination to knock out the seven-time grand slam winner on her return to Flushing Meadows.

Game. Set. Match.

Karolina Muchova and Venus Williams shake hands — Clive Brunskill

Williams* 1-5 3-6, 6-2 Muchova

Williams has not found her range as well in this set, comes forward and sends a forehand long to find herself 0-30 down.

But she fights her way back into it, sending Muchova running all over the court before levelling at 30-30 with a straight backhand winner.

A yelp from Williams follows a mistake, she has sent the ball into the net and Muchova has a break point.

Muchova wins the next point as Williams is late coming to the net and cannot keep the ball in court, to break.

Williams 1-4 3-6, 6-2 Muchova*

As Williams slices a backhand into the net to give Muchova a 30-0 lead on her serve the crowd sigh in disappointment.

But a double fault from Muchova allows Williams back into the game and she draws level at 30-30.

Another mistake from Muchova means the game will go to deuce, but the Czech player holds.

Williams* 1-3 3-6, 6-2 Muchova

Williams is serving to stay in the match now after a quickfire start to the decider from Muchova.

She takes the first point with a clever wide serve and finishes it with an overhead which Muchova can barely get a racket to.

But there is no getting away from the power of Williams, who unleashes a strong forehand winner to make it 30-0.

Williams holds to love and reminds those in the stadium that she is not out of this yet.

Williams 0-3 3-6, 6-2 Muchova*

Muchova eases to a 40-0 win and makes no mistakes quickly establishing a 3-0 lead in the decider.

The crowd have quietened on Arthur Ashe after that emphatic second set from the home favourite.

Williams* 0-2 3-6, 6-2 Muchova

There is a chance that Williams put a bit too much into the second set to leave anything for this one, and she now has to fight back from 0-30.

Muchova carves out a break point at 30-40, and takes it with an open hand forehand.

Williams 0-1 3-6, 6-2 Muchova*

Every point from Williams receives cheers, while when Muchova wins the reaction is little more than a stony silence.

The crowd really want to see Williams into the next round, it might not have looked likely at the start of the game, but she has played some really good tennis today.

Muchova goes on the attack, coming almost to the baseline to try and force a winner, and holds to 15.

SECOND SET: Williams 3-6, 6-2 Muchova

Williams is serving out for the second set, and takes a 15-0 lead.

An absolute rocket of a forehand across the court ensures Williams retains her advantage at 30-15.

The following double fault is greeted by groans from the crowd who have almost filled the cavernous Arthur Ashe stadium in support of the legend Williams.

Instead it is Muchova who has break point after Williams hits a ball into the net, but the home favourite is able to save it, and carve out an advantage.

On her second set point, Williams can only find the net, but with her third she levels the match!

Williams 5-2 3-6 Muchova*

Williams continues on from her impressive service game to take the first point on Muchova’s serve.

But Muchova sends a backhand down the line to draw level, and another one to make it 30-30.

Williams has carved out break point, it might have come because a shot rebounded kindly off the net and allowed her to send down an attacking backhand winner, but the crowd are happy.

Williams takes the game to establish a strong lead in this set, and some of the crowd are on their feet in support.

Williams* 4-2 3-6 Muchova

Williams wins a baseline exchange, with Muchova finding the net to go ahead. 15-0.

This has been a smooth service game from Williams, who eases to a 40-0. For a moment it looked as though she would take it with a serve and volley, but another volley goes straight into the net.

But from the baseline she has been formidable, and takes the game.

Williams 3-2 3-6 Muchova*

Muchova is getting back into this, easing to a 40-0 lead in the game.

She holds with an ace down the middle.

Williams* 3-1 3-6 Muchova

An overhand that rolls back the years from Williams gives her the first point on her service game 15-0.

A wild long forehand ensures the score is quickly levelled at 30-30, but Williams stays ahead with a clever wide serve.

Williams ensures she stays ahead in the second.

Williams 2-1 3-6 Muchova*

Muchova’s backhand from the baseline goes into the net and Williams has a 15-30 lead on the Czech player’s serve.

Muchova digs deep to come back and go 40-30 up and then goes on to get on the scoreboard in the second set.

Williams* 2-0 3-6 Muchova

Muchova has come back into it in this game, storming to a 30-0 lead with a high forehand winner.

Williams has come back into this game to the delight of Arthur Ashe and holds!

The cheers are starting to coincide with every point she wins now.

Williams 1-0 3-6 Muchova*

Williams takes a 0-30 lead at the start of the second however, with Muchova hitting one long.

Another misshit from Muchova and Williams has three break points.

Williams has the ideal chance to take it, she comes to the net and has an open court to aim at, but her volley goes into the net.

Muchova saves the second break point with a strong serve that Williams cannot return.

An advantage gives Williams her fourth break point of the game, and this one she does take.

FIRST SET: Williams* 3-6 Muchova

Williams makes it 15-15 on her service game with a cross court forehand that Muchova can hardly get a racket on, never mind direct the ball back into the court.

Muchova fires a forehand well outside the baseline and Williams moves 40-15 up.

A double fault gives Muchova another opportunity at 40-30, and the game goes to deuce.

Williams takes the advantage as Muchova fires a backhand into the net, but the advantage swings the other way courtesy of a double fault.

Set point is saved by a big serve from Williams, but Muchova carves out another, and that one she does take after another double fault!

Williams 3-5 Muchova*

Muchova has stepped up her level here. Playing Williams all around the court she carves out a 40-15 lead.

And she takes it when Williams returns a serve straight into the net.

Williams* 3-4 Muchova

Having got herself back into the set, Williams now finds herself on the back foot. 0-30.

But she is still so powerful from the baseline and does well when she controls the rally, before levelling the game at 30-30.

After a double fault, Muchova has break point, and takes it when Williams finds the net with a low forehand.

Williams 3-3 Muchova*

A stunning forehand winner down the line puts Williams ahead, but the next return is long 15-15.

Muchova has changed tactics slightly and is looking to make her opponent run as much as possible.

It works to get her back into the game, but Muchova hands over a break point with a forehand into the tramlines.

After taking the game to deuce, Muchova holds with an ace down the middle.

Williams* 3-2 Muchova

Williams pulls out a stunning backhand passing shot, that has got the crowd properly involved. 15-0.

She follows it up with another to go 30-0 up.

Williams holds to take the lead for the first time in the match.

Williams 2-2 Muchova*

A double fault from Muchova and Williams is ahead in this game, but it’s quickly level as the Czech player forces her opponent around the court.

Williams might still have the power, but she’s definitely not as agile as she used to be.

Having said that, she has just carved out break point, and a chance to get back into the opening set. 30-40.

She takes it!

Williams* 1-2 Muchova

Williams tries to switch it up and serve and volley but her net game is not quite there and she sends the ball into the net. 0-30.

The crowd are trying to get on her side, but can it have any impact on the outcome on court?

She fires another one long and is 0-40 down.

The second time she tries the serve-volley tactic it works, and she gets on the board in the game, following it up with another point. 30-40.

That was the best shot of the match so far! Williams plays a down the line backhand winner to take the game to deuce.

Williams has won a game! She plays a cross-court winner to get on the scoreboard.

Williams 0-2 Muchova*

A wild backhand from Williams flies not just into the tramlines but out of the court and Muchova takes a 15-0 lead.

But the next one is a much better rally from the 45-year-old, who plays a strong winner to Muchova’s backhand side.

Muchova holds to 15.

Williams* 0-1 Muchova (* denotes server)

Venus Williams’ first serve goes into the net, but the first point goes the way of the Czech player, to very muted applause from the crowd.

She is doing exactly what she said she would before the match, trying to hit the ball as hard as she can, but after two shots have gone wide, she is 0-30.

A double fault takes the score to 0-40, but a first serve goes in and Williams has her first point of the match.

But Muchova breaks to 15.

The players warm up

As the players warm up, here is a quick reminder of some stats about Venus Williams:

She has seven grand slam singles titles, two at the US Open, and the other five at Wimbledon.

Williams is the third oldest woman to compete in the main draw at the US Open in the Open Era (behind only Renee Richards and Gussie Moran)

She has 31 career singles titles on hard court, most recently at Kaohsiung in 2016.

Venus Williams arrives on Arthur Ashe

Venus Williams strides onto court in an all-white ensemble that has echoes of Wimbledon.

She has not only brought out a tennis bag, but a guitar-shaped bag covered in fur.

There are some ways to make an entrance, and that was one of them.

Venus Williams holds great love of tennis

Many might have assumed that Venus Williams had retired quitely, in contrast to her sister Serena’s public announcement in Vogue in 2022.

But Venus has insisted that tennis is a part of her: “I think I’ll always play tennis.

“It’s in my DNA. So it doesn’t matter if it’s now or 30 years from now…tennis will always be one of the most important parts of my life.”

Arthur Ashe fills up

There has been quite a long wait on Arthur Ashe for this match, the one before finished earlier this afternoon, but the fans have started making their way into the stadium to watch a true legend of the sport.

Williams has won seven grand slam singles titles, and 14 doubles alongside her younger sister Serena, but her last singles title was in 2008.

While the fans stream in there are the visuals of tennis balls bobbing around and a Statue of Liberty playing tennis to keep those who have taken their seats early entertained.

Venus Williams prepares to play first Grand Slam match for two years

Venus Williams has celebrated twice holding the trophy aloft on Arthur Ashe. But the most recent of those was in 2001.

Now aged 45, she will play in the first round of the US Open, against Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova.

It will be a record-extending 25th appearance at her home slam for Williams, who said before the match about how much she loves her “job”.

In that tournament she won her first-round match against fellow American Peyton Sears, to become the oldest player to win a WTA Tour singles match for more than 20 years.

Although she exited in the second round, Williams has continued to play.

“I love my job. So there’s the joy right there,” she said ahead of the US Open, a tournament she first played in back in 1997.

But what is expected of her, if you ask the player, a lot. “I want to be my best, and that’s the expectation I have for myself, to get the best out of me. And that’s all any player can ask for,” she said.

“I haven’t played as much as the other players, so it’s a different challenge when you’re dealing with that. So I’m just trying to, like, have fun, stay relaxed, and be my personal best.”

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