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TennisSection previews the 2023 Libema Open first-round match featuring Venus Williams vs. Celine Naef on Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Venus vs Naef Match Details

Where is the match taking place: Venus Williams vs. Celine Naef will take place at the Autotron Rosmalen, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, for the 2023 Libema Open.

What is the start time: Venus Williams vs. Celine Naef will start not (TBD)

How can I watch: The match will be telecast live on WTATV.

Venus vs Naef Head-to-Head

This will be the first career meeting between the legendary American Venus Willaims and 17-year-old Celine Naef.

Venus vs Naef Prediction

It’s an inter-generation clash at the 2023 Libema Open as Venus Williams, 42, faces Celine Naef, 17, in an intriguing first-round match in Den Bosch. It is perhaps the largest age gap between two players that I can think of on the women’s tour (the other one that comes to mind is on the ATP when 44-year-old Thomas Muster played 18-year-old Dominic Thiem in Vienna). Venus hasn’t played since January when she defeated Katie Volynets in Auckland but lost in her next match to Zhu Lin. So, it’s been nearly six months since she last played competitively. Naef, a promising young talent from Switzerland, has played no fewer than 35 matches this season, with her last outing coming at the French Open where she lost to Elizabeth Mandlik in qualies. She’s ranked slightly outside the top 200, but is the higher-ranked player in this matchup, and is in better form. Naef has won five titles on the ITF circuit, with two coming this season, one of them a W40 in Porto in February. She was a losing finalist in Chiasso on clay against the new breakout star Mirra Andreeva (although she did take a set there). While she’s never played on grass in her career, she should comfortably have the legs to outrun and outmaneuver Williams. I don’t expect it to be physical, but with such a long timeframe since her last match, Williams will be heavy-legged. Back the young Swiss to emerge triumphant.