American tennis legend Venus Williams has suffered an early exit at the Hobart International, casting a shadow over her preparations for the upcoming Australian Open. The 45-year-old was defeated in straight sets by Germany's Tatjana Maria in the tournament's first round on Tuesday.
Historic Match Ends in Defeat for Williams
In a clash that lasted 87 minutes, world number 42 Tatjana Maria secured a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the seven-time Grand Slam champion. This marked the first-ever meeting between the two veterans on the WTA Tour. More notably, their battle set a new record for the highest combined age in a women's main draw match since the tour's inception in 1973.
The loss in Hobart comes on the heels of another first-round exit at last week's Auckland Classic. This means Williams has now been knocked out in the opening stage of two consecutive tournaments as she builds momentum for Melbourne.
Windy Conditions and a Touching Tribute
Facing challenging windy conditions on court, Williams showed flashes of her renowned fighting spirit. She managed to save six out of nine break points against her serve. However, she struggled to consistently shift the momentum in her favour against a determined Maria.
For the 38-year-old German winner, the occasion held special meaning. Maria revealed after the match that her own children are big fans of the American icon. "Everybody loves Venus. I love her too," Maria stated. "For me, to play her was such an honour because I never played her before. It was not easy with all the wind but it was amazing."
Looking Ahead to Melbourne and Other Hobart Results
With her Hobart campaign over, Venus Williams will now direct her full focus to the Australian Open, where she has been granted a wildcard entry. This will mark her first appearance at the Melbourne Grand Slam in five years. Her participation is set to make her the oldest woman to compete at the year's opening major when play begins on Sunday.
Maria, who last year became the oldest WTA Tour singles champion since Serena Williams in 2020, progresses to the last-16. Her next opponent will be Hungary's Anna Bondar.
In other first-round action in Hobart, there was another significant upset. Former world number two and 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova also crashed out. The Czech player, currently ranked 55, fell to American Peyton Stearns in a tight three-set battle, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4). Krejcikova, who has been managing knee and back injuries, required treatment and strapping on her knee during the match. Stearns will face Serbia's Olga Danilovic, who ousted defending champion McCartney Kessler.
