Magdalena Fręch will face 45-year-old Venus Williams in Washington after a year away from competitive tennis for the American icon. The match is set for the night from Thursday to Friday, starting no earlier than 1:30 AM Polish time.
Fręch currently holds a position just outside the top twenty of the WTA rankings, despite a challenging season with a record of 9 wins and 18 losses. With points from her title in Guadalajara and performances in Asia due to expire soon, she will need to step up her game. In the first round in Washington, she secured a victory against Yulia Starodubtseva.
For Williams, this marks her first tournament since March of last year, and she has noticeably shown improvement on the court. The seven-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t posted strong results since before the pandemic, mainly competing through wildcards since then. Her recent win over Peyton Stearns was a surprising and impressive return, and she also thrived in doubles alongside Hailey Baptiste.
This will be Fręch and Williams’ first encounter on the court. Fręch will have the opportunity to compete against a tennis legend, a situation that could add pressure. Given Fręch’s playing style, she may feel confident in her ability to challenge Williams, although the American’s powerful shots should not be underestimated.
Stearns struggled to maintain composure and manage Williams during their previous match. Historically, Williams has enjoyed playing against competitors with Fręch’s defensive style, and she would feel quite comfortable dealing with her slicing techniques. However, given the current stage of her career, anything is possible, and Fręch is expected to offer Williams a rigorous test of her physical preparedness.
This highly anticipated match represents not only a significant challenge for Fręch but also an exciting moment for tennis fans, as Williams continues her comeback. The encounter could mark a pivotal point in both players’ seasons.