Venus Williams: 17th Straight Loss, 'One Week at a Time' Amid Career-End Questions

Venus Williams stumbled on court but managed to stay on her feet after her 17th consecutive singles loss. The 46-year-old American was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by 23-year-old Lilli Stoiana. When asked about a return in 2027, she deflected, saying, 'I'm taking it one week at a time.' The answer leaves a big question about her career future, especially as she has not won a singles match since July last year. In the first set, Venus fell behind 5-2 and Stoiana won one more game to take the set. In the second set, Venus could not find any rhythm. Ranked 597th in the world, Venus faced Stoiana, ranked 113th and half her age. During the match, Venus stumbled once but managed to stay on her feet. The crowd heavily favoured her opponent, another sign of this stage of her career. Venus's seven Grand Slam titles are often compared to her sister Serena Williams's 23. Serena made a return to tennis this year, but Venus's situation is different. She reached the Guangzhou doubles semi-final in 2026, showing she still has something in the tank, but the losing streak in singles is challenging her confidence. Stoiana marked a big moment in her career with this win, while for Venus it was another disappointing day. Looking at Venus's recent form, she has not won a singles match since July last year. A 17-match losing streak is a concern, but it is unclear whether this is the longest drought of her career. The tennis world is asking whether she can still be competitive in singles. However, her participation in doubles shows her passion for the court is not over. She is playing doubles in Hong Kong, where she has performed well so far. After the match, when Venus mentioned Serena's return, she brushed it off lightly. She said, 'I'm taking it one week at a time,' which reflects her uncertainty. This is not the first time she has deflected questions about her future. Her performance has clearly declined in recent months, but she is still competing. Venus's career has been inspiring for any player. With seven Grand Slam singles titles and several doubles titles, she is a strong candidate for the Tennis Hall of Fame. But her current singles record does not match her glorious career. Staying on court at 46 shows her commitment, but constant losing can be mentally exhausting. Reaching the Guangzhou doubles semi-final and playing doubles in Hong Kong suggests she still wants to play competitive tennis. But her struggle in singles continues. Will she return in 2027? That is the biggest question right now. She has no shortage of experience, but beating the speed and power of young players is becoming harder. Tennis experts believe Venus now needs to balance singles and doubles. Her success in doubles shows what she can still do on court. But constant losing in singles can lower her confidence. If she wants to continue in singles, she will have to work on her strategy and fitness. What Venus's next step will be, only time will tell, but one thing is certain: her career remains a topic of discussion. Despite the 17th straight loss, her presence on court shows her passion. However, whether that passion can bring her success in singles remains to be seen. For now, she is taking it 'one week at a time,' and that is her current answer.