Williams loses to Rakhimova in Toronto

Venus Williams's challenging streak continued as she fell to Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-1 in a rain-delayed match at the National Bank Open in Toronto. The loss marks the 46-year-old American's 12th consecutive defeat, a skid that began in July 2025.

Williams, who received a singles wild-card entry into the WTA 1000 event, fought hard despite the outcome. "We play outside … you can’t control the weather," Williams commented after the match. "But the fans were amazing. They were with me right in every point that was fantastic. I was just fighting to put the ball on the court."

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We play outside … you can’t control the weather. But the fans were amazing. They were with me right in every point that was fantastic. I was just fighting to put the ball on the court.

Rakhimova, a 24-year-old from Uzbekistan ranked 82nd globally, acknowledged the significance of facing the tennis icon. "Playing Venus is not an everyday experience," Rakhimova said. "I’m very glad to actually get a chance to play against her. I was looking forward to that match. I knew it was going to be a center-court match. I was trying to enjoy my time on it, no matter what the result."

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Playing Venus is not an everyday experience. I’m very glad to actually get a chance to play against her. I was looking forward to that match. I knew it was going to be a center-court match. I was trying to enjoy my time on it, no matter what the result.