Washington (USA) – Monday in Washington marked Venus Williams’ return to circuit competition. Guest at the WTA 250 local, the former leader of the ranking had not played a singles match since last August in Chicago. Since then, they have only played mixed doubles at Wimbledon. Venus had some good times in the match against 111th-ranked Canadian Rebecca Marino, but felt the lack of pace and third-set swings ended up costing the result. Marino scored the partials 4/6, 6/1 and 6/4.

“Venus is a legend in the sport, it’s an honor to play against her. In the first set she was better and served really well, I couldn’t find my rhythm. My game basically depends on my serve and I I kept fighting. Luckily I managed to break his serve and win,” said Marino, 31, who reached the top 40 in 2011. five years away from tennis to take care of his mental health and returned to the courts playing in smaller tournaments. In early July, he was in the top 100 for the first time in ten years.

Marino moves on 🔛

🇧🇷 @beccamarino90 comes from a set down to defeat Williams 4-6, 6-1, 6-4!#CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/DgD0FUNVWy

– wta (@WTA) August 2, 2022

Marino led the winners’ stats 24-13 and committed 43 unforced errors to Venus’ 49. The Canadian fired 10 aces against only 3 and committed only two double faults, against 13 of the former leader of the classification. The game saw six breaks, four for Marino and two for Venus. The Canadian is now waiting for the winner between the German Andrea Petkovic and the Danish Clara Tauson.

Although Marino fired five aces in the first set, Venus was more consistent in her service games. Although the American didn’t face any break points, she pressed on her opponent’s serve in the first game and managed to seize her fourth opportunity.

The second set was largely dominated by the Canadian, who earned three more breaks and only lost four points in her service games. Venus started better in the third set and ended up opening 4/1, with two aces in the same game. But the American suffered a break after double faulting in the seventh game and allowed the tie in the streak. Marino would break again and served very well late in the game, setting the dispute with another ace.

GORGEOUS 🔥

🇧🇷 @Venuseswilliams overtakes Marino for the first set, 6-4!#CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/29ZhjA7Ufq

– wta (@WTA) August 2, 2022

Also on Monday, Liudmila Samsonova made her debut with victory. The Russian overtook the Belgian Elise Mertens, 5th in the lead, with partials of 7/6 (7-4) and 6/4. Samsonova, 23 and 60th in the standings, awaits the winner between Australian Ajla Tomljanovic and North American Sloane Stephens, champion in 2015.

The US Open champion Emma Raducanu in preview this Tuesday, around 10 p.m. (from Brasilia). The British take on American Louisa Chirico. The day will also see the debuts of Victoria Azarenka, who faces Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, and Sofia Kenin, rival of Colombia’s Camila Osorio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qEDRenwXw