MADRID — Venus Williams sets her ambitions on the coveted French Open.
The 45-year-old former world No. 1 expressed her interest in competing at Roland Garros next month following her 10th consecutive singles defeat.
“Yeah, this was a fantastic way to start getting back into the groove,” she remarked during her post-match press conference at the Madrid Open. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to participate in Rome due to prior commitments, which makes me quite sad, especially since my husband is Italian. We truly wish we could continue our journey on clay.”
A seven-time Grand Slam champion, Williams faced a 6-2, 6-4 defeat against the 20-year-old Spanish rising star, Kaitlin Quevedo.
Making her return after a five-year hiatus from Madrid, Williams last featured on clay at the 2021 French Open, where she was eliminated in the opening round by Ekaterina Alexandrova.
“Adjustments are part of the game,” Williams noted. “I began my clay practice a couple of weeks after Miami. It’s been ages since I played on clay, but I really enjoy it—it’s exhilarating. Today, I faced a very motivated opponent.”
Williams’ most recent tour victory came against Peyton Stearns in the round of 16 during a WTA 500 event in Washington in July 2025. This year, she has experienced losses in Auckland, Hobart, the Australian Open, Austin, Indian Wells, and Miami.
Quevedo celebrated her first WTA 1000 main-draw triumph, marking only the second tour-level win of her career. She made history as the youngest Spanish player to secure a main-draw victory at the Madrid Open.
“I was completely taken aback,” Quevedo exclaimed. “I never anticipated this moment. It was an honor to compete against such a legend on this magnificent court for the first time. I’m just incredibly grateful to be here.”
