By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 7, 2025Photo credit score: Cincinnati Open Fb
Racing as much as the floating ball at midcourt, Venus Williams whipped a forehand drive volley into the nook.
The 45-year-old Williams confirmed flashes of classic type in her Cincinnati return.
Throughout the online, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro sustained a better stage all through toppling Williams 6-4, 6-4 in at the moment’s Cincinnati Open opener.
The 22-year-old Spaniard delivered a four-game run on the finish of the primary set and received the ultimate three video games of the match in an 87-minute triumph.
It ended with followers—and Bouzas Maneiro herself—sending former No. 1 Williams off with a standing ovation after a strong efficiency.
Bouzas Maneiro moved on to a second-round conflict vs. Washington, DC champion Leylah Fernandez.
Preventing on 🔛
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro fights previous Williams, 6-4, 6-4, to succeed in the second spherical in Cincinnati.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/A5s4vzY9eX
— wta (@WTA) August 7, 2025
In the meantime, Williams, who launched her comeback upsetting compatriot Peyton Stearns in Washington, DC, is 1-2 in her comeback and has proven sufficient high quality to earn a US Open wild card if she needs one.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who has a US Open blended doubles wild card with good good friend Reilly Opelka, resides proof tennis is actually a lifetime sport. It could be a becoming method for the USTA to have a good time the twenty fifth anniversary of Williams maiden US Open title with a singles wild card—in addition to a chance for Flushing Meadows followers to share the love with the four-time Olympic gold-medal champion.
As we speak, you will have anticipated Bouzas Maneiro to come back out enjoying crosscourt nook to nook to problem the veteran’s motion. Via the primary six video games she didn’t try this—as an alternative opting to attempt to tie the long-limbed Williams up with deep drives down the center. That tact helped Bouzas Maneiro hearth out to a 4-1 lead as Williams struggled to assist her second serve.
Williams received solely 8 of 29 second-serve factors as Bouzas Maneiro broke six instances, however when the five-time Wimbledon winner made her first serve—particularly on the deuce courtroom—she was enjoying first-strike tennis.
Contesting her eleventh Cincinnati Open, Williams confirmed her sturdy will and a stinging slider serve staging a three-game rally to stage at 4-all.
All that good work dissipated when Williams sailed a backhand and Bouzas Maneiro earned her third break of the set for a 5-4 lead.
Nonetheless, Williams competed with deep need. When the Spaniard examined the 45-year-old legend’s legs with a drop shot, Williams simply ran it down and swatted a forehand winner down the road for break level within the tenth sport.
On the verge of breaking again, Williams’ rust confirmed. She netted three three forehands within the subsequent 4 factors. On Bouzas Maneiro’s second set level, Williams netted a backhand because the Spaniard sealed the 41-minute opening set.
Bouzas Maneiro exploited a double fault breaking to start out the second set and slid a serve down the T to go up 2-0.
At that time, it appeared just like the match might slip away. Williams had different concepts breaking again within the fourth sport to stage 2-all.
Although she lacks the quick first step and eye-popping closing velocity of her prime, when Williams will get her physique weight behind the ball she will nonetheless hammer deep drives. She confirmed that talent smacking a forehand drive down the road then catching a break when the Spaniard tapped a simple smash into internet to interrupt for 3-all. A Williams biting physique serve helped her go up 4-3.
The Bouzas Maneiro forehand down the road was a weapon when she wanted it most. The world No. 51 used that shot to assist her maintain for 4-all. A clear Bouzas Maneiro forehand return winner down the road sealed the essential break for 5-4.
Dropping to her knees, Aga Radwanska fashion, Bouzas Maneiro warded off a crackling return to open the tenth sport. On her second match level, Bouzas Maneiro’s slider serve down the T closed Williams’ Cincinnati return a full 13 years after she reached the semifinals dropping to Li Na.
