Tennis legend Venus Williams has suffered her 16th consecutive singles defeat after losing to 18-year-old Austrian player Lilli Tagger in the first round of the Guangzhou Open in China.
The 46-year-old American was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by Tagger on Tuesday, extending a disappointing run that has left the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion searching for her first singles victory since July 2025.
Tagger, who is 28 years younger than Williams, dominated the contest and secured victory in straight sets, underlining her growing reputation on the professional circuit.
The result also means Williams has lost all 13 of her singles matches in 2026, having last tasted victory against Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open in July 2025.
Ranked 599th in the world, Williams returned to singles action in Guangzhou after a two-month absence. Her previous appearance was at the US Open in August, where she lost to fellow American Sofia Kenin in the opening round.
Despite her latest setback, Williams remains one of the most accomplished players in women’s tennis history, with seven Grand Slam singles titles and multiple Olympic gold medals to her name.
Tagger, meanwhile, continues to build momentum in her young career. The Austrian teenager won the junior girls’ singles title at the French Open before claiming her first WTA Tour title in Prague earlier in 2026.
The match highlighted the remarkable generational gap between the two players, who represent different eras of women’s tennis. When Tagger was born in 2008, Williams had already won six of her seven Grand Slam singles titles.
Williams’ campaign in Guangzhou is not yet over, as she is also competing in the women’s doubles event alongside Indonesian player Janice Tjen.
The American will hope to find better fortune in doubles as she continues her return to competitive tennis.
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