Venus Williams Suffers 10th Straight WTA Loss in Madrid Open Opener
Venus Williams extended her winless streak to 10 consecutive WTA matches with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Kaitlin Quevedo in the opening round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The loss came on Manolo Santana Stadium, where the 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion fell to the 20-year-old Spaniard ranked world No. 140.
Quevedo delivered a historic performance, earning her first WTA 1000 main-draw victory and just the second tour-level win of her career. The match lasted one hour and 43 minutes, with Quevedo breaking Williams’ serve three times in the first set to build a 3-0 lead before closing it out 6-2. In the second set, Quevedo broke early again and held on despite Williams breaking back once to make it 3-1, ultimately winning 6-4 to secure the milestone victory.
“I was so surprised,” Quevedo said in her on-court interview after the match. “I didn’t know that was going to happen. I’m just really happy that I was able to play against such a legend on this amazing court for the first time. It was a privilege, and I’m just really happy to be here.”
The victory marked several significant milestones for Quevedo. At 20 years old, she became the youngest Spanish player to win a main-draw match at the Mutua Madrid Open, surpassing Garbiñe Muguruza’s record from 2014 (20 years, 209 days). Quevedo is also the lowest-ranked player (No. 140) to defeat a current or former World No. 1 at the event since the tournament’s debut in 2009.
Quevedo became the first player to beat a current or former World No. 1 in her first Tier I/WTA 1000 match since the format was introduced in 1990. Her victory came against Williams, who held the World No. 1 ranking for 11 weeks during her career and won seven Grand Slam singles titles.
For Williams, the loss continued a challenging stretch that began after her victory over Rebecca Marino at the 2024 Miami Open. Since that win, Williams has dropped 10 straight WTA matches, including losses to players ranked significantly lower than her career peak. The 45-year-old veteran, who turned professional in 1994, has won 49 WTA singles titles throughout her career, including seven at Wimbledon and two at the US Open.
The Mutua Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 event held annually at the Caja Mágica in Madrid, Spain, featured strong first-round action beyond the Williams-Quevedo match. According to tournament reports, Magdalena Linette advanced to the second round by defeating Emma Navarro in straight sets, while other notable results included victories for Sara Sorribes Tormo and Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro.
Williams’ appearance in Madrid marked her continued presence on the WTA Tour despite her advancing age and recent struggles with form. The American has competed in Madrid multiple times throughout her career, with her best result coming in 2008 when she reached the quarterfinals.
Quevedo, meanwhile, will look to build on her historic win as she advances to face either Ana Bogdan or Cristina Bucsa in the second round, depending on the outcome of their match. The young Spaniard enters the next round with heightened confidence after achieving what few players have accomplished so early in their careers on the WTA 1000 level.
The result adds another chapter to Williams’ storied career, which has spanned three decades and included Olympic gold medals, numerous Grand Slam titles, and a lasting impact on the sport both on and off the court. While the current winless streak represents a challenging period, Williams’ legacy remains secure as one of tennis’ all-time greats.
Williams’ next scheduled appearance has not been officially announced as of this writing. Quevedo will await the winner of the Bogdan-Bucsa match for her second-round encounter at the Mutua Madrid Open, with play continuing throughout the week at the Caja Mágica facility in Madrid.
For continued coverage of the Mutua Madrid Open and all WTA Tour events, fans can follow official tournament updates through the WTA’s website and social media channels.
