Few people gave Venus Williams a chance on her US Open return - so a gallant defeat felt like victory for the 45-year-old after her debilitating health issues.

The elder Williams was off the tennis tour for 16 months until making a comeback at a tournament in Washington last month, where she won one match each in singles and doubles. She hadn't competed anywhere since the Miami Open in March 2024, and had surgery for uterine fibroids later last year.

Venus Williams, 45, becomes the oldest singles player to compete at the U.S. Open since 1981 during her first-round loss to Karolina Muchova.