Seven-time Singles Grand Slam champion Venus Williams crashed out of the Chicago Women’s Open in the first-round after being handed a wildcard on Monday.
It comes after her world ranking dropped to 147, her lowest since 1997.
The oldest person in the draw at 41, former world number one Williams lost 6-2, 6-3 to Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei.
Elsewhere, at the WTA 250 Tournament, Great Britain’s Heather Watson retired hurt 6-2, 1-0 down against Romania’s Ana Bogdan.
At the Cleveland Championships, GB’s Tara Moore was beaten 6-4, 7-5, by Linda Fruhvirtova in the first-round.
Williams has been awarded a wildcard for the Grand Slam – at which she won the Singles title in 2000 and 2001.
The US Open takes place from August 30 to September 12. (BBC)
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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