Venus Williams retirement row: US Open fan notices ‘weird’ detail after Townsend-Siniakova loss

Venus Williams' comeback US Open campaign came to an end with a loss against top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend in the doubles quarter-finals

Published on: Sep 3, 2025, 04:47:38 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Venus Williams' comeback US Open campaign came to an end with a loss against top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend in the doubles quarter-finals on Tuesday. The 45-year-old was paired up with Leylah Fernandez. Townsend-Siniakova won 6-1, 6-2.

Venus Williams (USA) (R) and partner Leylah Fernandez (CAN) (L) leave the court after their match against Katerina Siniakova (CZE) and Taylor Townsend (USA) (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

However, a social media user spotted a bizarre detail after Williams' loss. The account, @scottgayham, tweeted that the seven-time Grand Slam winner might have skipped a retirement announcement. Another user attached a video of her allegedly avoiding an on-court interview by former tennis star Pam Shriver.

“Did Venus Williams just skip a retirement announcement, Stacey Allaster approached her and then Pam Shriver got snubbed by Vee, weird scenes #USOpen,” the user asked on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

Other than this observation, there was nothing to indicate that Williams is even considering retirement.

Williams and Fernandez lost in straight sets on the Louis Armstrong Stadium. The star pair recorded just too many unforced errors. Their opponents, Townsend and Siniakova, on the other hand, showed top speed.

Only a week ago, Venus Williams was urged not to retire after she made a record 25th US Open appearance at the age of 45. She lost against Karolina Muchova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. ESPN analyst Chris Evert said, “I was very impressed. She was very consistent. She extended the rallies and came into the net. She moved well and mentally, you saw the fight in her eyes - the intensity was there, the passion was there."

"I was very encouraged by it. I hope she is too. I think she should continue to play in the Fall. I think she should be hungry as ever and slowly, with more matches, she will get to a higher level.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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