Venus Williams Retires US Open, Alcaraz Advances Second Round

At the 2025 US Open, Venus Williams made a heartfelt return to Grand Slam tennis after a 16-month hiatus, ultimately bowing out in the first round to 11th seed Karolina Muchova in three sets. Williams, 45, expressed pride in her performance and appreciated the crowd's support during her emotional comeback. Meanwhile, Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, cruised into the second round with a straight-sets victory over American Reilly Opelka, showcasing a new crew cut hairstyle. Madison Keys, the Australian Open winner and sixth seed, suffered a surprising first-round defeat to Mexico's Renata Zarazua in a close three-set match. Additionally, former two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova retired from professional tennis following her opening-round loss. The tournament continues to draw significant attention, highlighting the blend of emerging talent and veteran players in New York City.