Washington Open 2025: Venus Williams' Run Snapped By Magdalena Frech In Round Of 16 Match

Magdalena Frech was honoured to have gone up against Venus Williams, after the Pole got the better of the seven-time major champion at the Washington Open.

Williams, who beat Peyton Stearns earlier in the week to become the oldest winner of a WTA Tour-level match in over 20 years, could not replicate that magic against Frech on Thursday.

The fifth seed prevailed 6-2 6-2 to reach her first quarter-final of the season.

"[Williams is] a superstar, she's like a god here, so it was very emotional for me to handle this match," Frech said.

"I can't even imagine myself in 17 years to still on the court – no chance!

"It was really a great match and a great honour to play her."

While 45-year-old Williams will now turn her attention to the Cincinnati Open, where she is a wild card, the draw has opened up after top seed Jessica Pegula fell to Leylah Fernandez.

The 2021 US Open runner-up triumphed 6-3 1-6 7-5 in two hours and 19 minutes.

Fernandez will now take on Taylor Townsend for a place in the last four, with the latter having defeated Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-0, while also beating Williams and Hailey Baptiste in the doubles.

Data Debrief: Frech keeps it clean

Frech made just 10 unforced errors in her win over Williams, who in turn made 32 such mistakes.

The 27-year-old has made the quarter-finals of an event for the first time since doing so in Wuhan in October 2024, and now has a third straight win in her sights.

She has not won three consecutive matches since that run to the last eight in China, and will take on Elena Rybakina next.