NEW YORK — At 12:13 a.m. Monday morning in New York, a matchup of former Grand-Slam champions who are now wild-card entrants set the record for the latest start to a women’s match at the U.S. Open.When it was over, Sofia Kenin had beaten Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6(6), as a match that turned into the latest first-round finish in tournament history threatened to unfurl into a vintage comeback. Williams had seven set points in the second set, three in a row on Kenin’s serve and four in a row in the tiebreak, but could not convert.It was Williams’ 96th main-draw appearance at a major tournament, and she made yet more, likely unwanted tennis history by besting Aryna Sabalenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova’s 12:07 a.m. start in 2024.After waiting until nearly the end of Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone’s five-set match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Williams and Kenin had walked over to Louis Armstrong Stadium. The stadium was unoccupied after Alexander Bublik had beaten American J.J. Wolf in another late-night bout caused by rain and a roof failure.But Kenin and Williams hadn’t yet warmed up by the time Navone knocked out Djokovic. When he did, they were given the choice between Armstrong and Ashe.They chose Ashe.The sparse crowd could not create an atmosphere worthy of a seven-time Grand Slam champion, hearty though the fans were, but Williams walked out onto the court seeming regal as ever. She wore a pleated poncho adorned with the words “Queen Vee” over a white outfit and waved, once again taking in Arthur Ashe Stadium at night.