A Legend Shattered, Magdalena Fręch Celebrates! Venus Williams Was Helpless

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Watching the first-round match of the WTA 500-ranked tournament in Washington, D.C., fans felt as if they had been transported back in time a good dozen years. 45-year-old Venus Williams wasn't playing like her age would suggest. The experienced tennis player returned to the professional courts after a 16-month break, and then... she didn't let Peyton Stearns, 22 years her junior, win a single set.

Spectators in the American capital were raving about Williams's excellent performance, wondering if she could beat the clear favorites. The answer would come Thursday night, when she faced Magdalena Fręch. The Łódź native was another opponent born long after Venus Williams played her first WTA match.

When Magdalena Fręch was born in December 1997, her current rival was already a star of women's tennis. She made her debut three years earlier, in 1994. Throughout her career, she won seven Grand Slam singles titles, becoming a legend in the sport, but since 2021, she has only appeared on the court sporadically.

We've seen her most often since the European tennis season returned to the United States to begin preparations for the US Open. This year, Venus was persuaded to play again, and after a sensational first-round performance, she was eager to get another shot at another one. She started her match against Magdalena Fręch with a serve.

The first points, although close, showed us two things. First, Venus Williams hadn't forgotten how to play against the world's top tennis players. She still managed to hit the ball so that it barely touched the corner of the court, leaving the Polish player no chance. Second, the slight stage fright the Łódź player must have been struggling with. Coach Andrzej Kobierski had to react quickly and remind her player that she had the right to feel much better prepared for this match.

In one moment, the Polish player realized her advantage over her seasoned opponent. A few short cuts were enough for her to see with her own eyes that Venus Williams wasn't as agile as she had been years ago and wouldn't be able to get to every difficult ball in time. Especially at the beginning, these specific moves allowed Fręch to gain the confidence she desperately needed in such a match.

As soon as our representative began to believe in her abilities, the elder Williams sister was in serious trouble. The first set was over in just 35 minutes. Fręch credited this to her control over unforced errors, something the American didn't see. The 45-year-old recorded 16 of them in the first set, and it was these errors that decided the outcome, despite the Pole's stable form. Magdalena Fręch led 6-2 and was just a step away from the quarterfinals, where Jelena Rybakina awaited.

The experienced tennis player was struggling with her serve, which had given her so much in her match against Peyton Stearns. Without improving this aspect of her game, she couldn't imagine causing another sensation, even with the overwhelming support from the stands. Once again, the Washington stadium was packed for the American tennis icon's match, even with Taylor Fritz, the ATP's number one seed, playing nearby.

Venus Williams didn't extend her break between sets and immediately tried to make up for lost time. The next game, however, was a nightmare, as she made several completely inexplicable errors at the net, even in the simplest of situations. It looked as if her strength had ebbed even further. She cut rallies short, often wanting to finish them with a return. The poor quality of her forehand gave no reason for optimism.

At the turn of the two sets, Fręch went on a 20-point streak (!), which spoke volumes about the American's weaker day. However, she eventually regained some control and, buoyed by the support, held serve from 0-30. The next game was crucial, as it would determine whether Williams could still compete with the Pole.

Fręch passed this difficult test with flying colors, winning the game confidently with beautiful winners, finishing it with an ace. The American's resignation was evident again, making it difficult to expect anything bad to happen to the Łódź player in this match. With both players maintaining their form, the difference in class in favor of the Polish representative was obvious. Only in isolated bouts could Williams manage such plays.

With Magdalena Fręch comfortably ahead, things got interesting again when the 45-year-old capitalized on some unexpected break points and broke her opponent. However, the Polish player's advantage was still large enough to feel confident. However, Venus Williams's serve didn't give her much confidence and prevented her from recovering.

Suffice it to say, in the very next game, the American again broke serve, making another series of simple errors. This allowed the Pole to serve to advance to the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Washington, D.C., which was just one game away. There was no further break, as Magdalena Fręch held serve and advanced to the next round!

Despite losing 2-6, 2-6, Venus Williams earned a standing ovation from the packed crowd in Washington. The wild celebrations after each point she won didn't carry the 45-year-old to a second major upset this time. The Łódź native had every right to celebrate after a consistent, decent performance. Now she faces a match against Jelena Rybakina, which will take place on Friday, not before 10:00 PM Polish time.

Magdalena Fręch - Venus Williams 6:2, 6:2