Venus Williams loses to Kamilla Rakhimova at Toronto Open

Venus Williams' 2026 singles campaign remains winless after a straight-sets defeat to Kamilla Rakhimova in the first round of the National Bank Open in Toronto on Sunday, August 2. The 46-year-old American, playing on a wildcard entry, fell 6-4, 6-1 to the 82nd-ranked player from Uzbekistan in a rain-delayed match on centre court.

The loss extends Williams' current losing streak to 12 consecutive matches, a run dating back to July 2025. Her only singles victory in the last three years came against Peyton Stearns at the Washington event in 2025. This season, she is now 0-10 in WTA main-draw events.

After the match, Williams acknowledged the challenging conditions but praised the support from fans. She said she was just fighting to put the ball on the court. Rakhimova expressed respect for her legendary opponent, calling the chance to play her a special experience she tried to enjoy regardless of the result.

The defeat has intensified ongoing debate about Williams' future in singles competition and the allocation of wildcard entries. Some observers and fans online have questioned whether she should continue accepting wildcards, arguing they could be used to develop younger players,...