WASHINGTON — Venus Williams' bid for her first winning streak since 2019 ended with a 6-2, 6-2 loss to 24th-ranked Magdalena Frech at the D.C. Open on Thursday night.

Williams received a massive ovation as she left the court at the tennis center that Arthur Ashe, one of her heroes in tennis and life, helped build. Ashe was a trailblazer for Black tennis players, and Williams and her sister, Serena, have followed in his footsteps.

Williams could not overcome 27-year-old Magdalena Frech, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round of the tournament on Thursday, July 24. Williams has not won back-to-back matches since 2019. Venus Williams and Hailey Baptiste won their first-round match in doubles play on Monday, but the duo fell short of reaching the third round.