WASHINGTON: Venus Williams` return to tennis came to an abrupt end in the last 16 of the ATP/WTA DC Open on Thursday, with the veteran American losing to Poland`s Magdalena Frech in straight sets.

The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, playing this week for the first time in 16 months, had become the oldest woman to win a WTA match in more than two decades with Tuesday`s first round win over Peyton Stearns.

But Williams found the going harder against fifth seed Frech in Thursday`s third round clash, losing 6-2, 6-2 in ihr 13min.

Williams said she was nonetheless satisfied with her return to competitive tennis.

`I had so much fun,` Williams said. `Not the result I wanted (but) I got to play a lot of matches, definitely a plus. I couldn`t be happier...

`I ran out of gas today unfortunately...

Sorry to have fell short. But I know I can play better and I know I will play better,` added Williams, who is due to play in next month`s Cincinnati Open after being handed a wild card into the event.Frech seized the early initiative with a dominant first set performance, breaking Williams in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead.

The Pole duly held for a 4-2 lead and then broke again when Williams` serve unraveled in the seventh game.

The American double-faulted twice in quick succession to hand Frech three break points, and she converted the first to go 5-2 up, before holding to close out the set.

Williams was soon in trouble in the second set, blasting a routine smash well beyond the baseline to give Frech two break points in the first game.

Frech pounced on that chance to grab the break for a 1-0 lead and then held for 2-0.

Williams held for 2-1 but was unable to threaten on Frech`s serve in the fourth game as the world number 24 took a 3-1 lead.

Frech`s shot variation continued to cause Williams problems in the next game and two wild long forehands from the veteran saw her surrender another break to go 4-1 down.

With the game slipping away, Williams loosened up and began to find her range to break back for 4-2.The rally was fleeting as Frech broke again in the seventh for a 5-2 lead and then held to seal victory.

In other games on Thursday, Canada`s Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist, upset top seed Jessica Pegula 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 to move into a quarter-final meeting with Taylor Townsend.

Townsend took down sixth seed Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-0.

Britain`s Emma Raducanu continued her impressive run of recent form with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Japan`s Naomi Osaka and will face Greece`s Maria Sakkari.

In the men`s draw, fourth seed Ben Shelton moved into the quarter-finals after beating Canadian 15th seed Gabriel Diallo 6-3, 6-2.

Shelton will face compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the last eight, the sixth seed defeating ninth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-4.

Australia`s Alex de Minaur is also into the quarter-finals after downing Jiri Lehecka 7-6(7/4), 6-7(6/8), 6-4.

Top seed Taylor Fritz also sailed into the last eight with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Matteo Arnaldi.-AFP