Former world number one Venus Williams suffered her 16th consecutive singles defeat after falling to an opponent 28 years younger at the Guangzhou Open on Tuesday.
A Historic Age Gap in Guangzhou
The 46-year-old American seven-time Grand Slam singles champion was defeated 6-2 6-2 by 18-year-old Lilli Tagger. The encounter marked the largest age gap between opponents in a WTA match this decade and ranks among the largest in tour-level history. Williams, currently ranked 599th in the world, has not secured a victory since July 2025 and depends on wildcards to compete in WTA tournaments.
Her ongoing participation via wildcards continues to spark debate within the sport. Critics contend that Williams occupies spots that could otherwise go to younger athletes working to build their professional careers, whereas tournament organizers recognize the commercial drawing power of inviting a legendary competitor.
Meanwhile, the spectators in Guangzhou demonstrated clear appreciation for the American superstar. A large and enthusiastic audience cheered for Williams and delivered a massive ovation as she exited the court.
Match Details and Reactions
Before Austria’s Tagger was born in February 2008, Williams had already claimed six of her Grand Slam singles titles alongside 30 WTA tournaments. Interestingly, Tagger’s coach is Francesca Schiavone, the Italian former world number four and 2010 French Open champion who shares the same age as Williams and lost all eight of her career matches against the American.
Reflecting on the match, Tagger, who holds the 53rd spot in the world rankings, stated she was incredibly excited and slightly nervous upon seeing the draw, noting her deep respect for Williams. “It is funny she used to play with my coach. I would love to play at this age – I want to congratulate her,” Tagger added.
Although the straight-set outcome will provide ammunition for critics, Williams forced the rising talent to earn her victory. Tagger, the 2025 French Open girls’ champion, delivered an exceptional serving performance by dropping only seven service points and avoiding a single break point, while effectively neutralizing Williams’ pace and groundstrokes.
Tagger broke her renowned opponent’s serve twice in each set to secure 1-0 and 5-2 leads. Williams occasionally relied on her powerful serve to escape difficult moments, successfully fighting off 12 out of 16 break points, and displayed her trademark competitive drive throughout the match.
The encounter served as another indication of the considerable gap that now separates Williams from the rest of the professional tour.
