Hsieh Su-Wei secured a major upset by defeating former top-ranked player Venus Williams during the opening round of the WTA Chicago Women's Open. Williams was eliminated quickly, falling 6-2, 6-3 in straight sets. The 41-year-old veteran and seven-time Grand Slam winner was the oldest competitor participating in the Chicago event.
Hsieh Su-Wei defeated the former world no 1 Venus Williams in the first round of the WTA Chicago women’s Open. Venus Williams crashed out of the WTA tournament, losing in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei. The seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams is the oldest player in the Chicago event at 41.
The Chicago Women's Open has already delivered some high-quality tennis, as athletes use the tournament to sharpen their skills and refine their techniques before heading into the 2021 U.S. Open. The WTA 250 event attracted several high-profile names, including Marketa Vondrousova, Elina Svitolina, and Venus Williams. For the American star, it was supposed to be the perfect warm-up for New York, but her campaign ended abruptly in the first round.
It took Hsieh Su-Wei only 67 minutes at Washington Park to eliminate one of the sport's legends. Venus appeared somewhat out of sync, perhaps due to slight adjustments she had made to her service motion, which left her looking a bit rusty. While Venus attempted to overpower her opponent as the match went on, Hsieh countered with an impressive ability to change direction, ultimately dominating the match to win in straight sets.
Hsieh stayed in control by keeping Williams defensive with a powerful serve, winning 71% of her first-serve points and breaking Venus's serve four times. In contrast, the 49-time WTA title holder struggled significantly, winning only 35% of her second-serve points and committing five double faults.
This match marked Venus Williams' first professional appearance since Wimbledon, where she had also been knocked out in the second round. She clearly struggled to find her rhythm on the court. Her season has been difficult, with a 3-9 record that includes two losses to world number 125 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Consequently, Venus has seen her global ranking slip to 147.
For the 35-year-old Hsieh, this victory stands as one of the most significant achievements of her career, bringing her season record to 11-12. The 81st-ranked player is no stranger to big stages; she previously reached the 2021 Australian Open quarterfinals before losing to Naomi Osaka and famously upset Simona Halep in the third round of the 2018 Wimbledon.
After a disappointing early exit at the Cincinnati Masters, Hsieh truly shone in Chicago, captivating the crowd with her style of play. Following the match, she expressed her excitement and honor in defeating a true legend of the game, admitting that Venus has always been one of her favorite players.