“Embarrassing”; “It has to stop” – Fans urge Venus Williams to retire after American suffers 16th straight loss at Guangzhou Open

Venus Williams' harrowing singles run hit a new low against Lilli Tagger at the Guangzhou Open on Tuesday.

By Parv Anand · Sportskeeda

Published: Tuesday, 27 October 2026 at 3:35 PM

Key Things to Know

Fans urged Venus Williams to retire after she suffered her 16th straight singles loss in Guangzhou.
Eighteen-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger defeated 46-year-old Williams 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round.
The 28-year difference between Tagger and Williams marked the largest age gap in WTA Tour history.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Venus Williams faced strong criticism from tennis fans after suffering her 16th consecutive singles defeat at the Guangzhou Open. The 46-year-old American entered the tournament via a wildcard and was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by 18-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger in the opening round. The fixture featured a 28-year age difference, marking the largest age gap between opponents in WTA Tour history.

Following the straight-sets singles loss, several supporters urged tournament organizers to stop offering wildcards to the veteran star. Despite her singles exit, Williams progressed in the doubles competition alongside Janice Tjen, defeating Ekaterine Gorgodze and Kimberley Zimmermann 6-0, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals.

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