"She can be in the top 10 or perhaps No. 1 or maybe win a Grand Slam": Venus Williams in awe of Greet Minnen after US Open thrashing

The former world number one Venus Willams has heaped praise on Belgium’s tennis star Greet Minnen after their meeting in the US Open first round.

The 43-year-old suffered a thumping defeat in her opening round fixture of the fourth and final Grand Slam of 2023 against the 26-year-old in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-1.

Venus, while talking to the media after the match, heaped praise on her opponent and stated that she has the ability to be in the top 10 women players in the world.

“I don’t think I played badly,” she said. “I think it was just one of those days where it’s just unlucky. I really have to give credit to her. It was just incredible, honestly. I mean, if she can play like that, you imagine that she can be in the top 10 or perhaps No. 1 or maybe win a Grand Slam, something like that, if she can play at this level.”

Those words will be a major boost for the current world number 62 who does not have a great record while playing at the Grand Slams. She has still not won a single WTA title in her career.

With the win on Tuesday, Minnen has now qualified for the second round of the US Open. Her best outing was playing in the third round of the mega-event back in 2021 where she was knocked out after losing to Canada’s Bianca Andreescu in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2.

The Turnhout-born is now set to face America’s Sachia Vickery in the second round of the competition on Thursday.