Veteran tennis star Venus Williams saw her Australian Open preparations face another setback after suffering a straight-sets defeat in the opening round of the Hobart International on Tuesday. The 45-year-old American was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Germany’s Tatjana Maria in a match that lasted just under an hour and a half, marking Williams’ second consecutive first-round loss in the lead-up to the season’s first Grand Slam.
Williams showed moments of resilience throughout the contest, saving six of nine break points and fighting hard in several long rallies. However, consistency proved difficult against the experienced Maria, who capitalised on key moments to secure the win. The defeat follows a similar early exit for Williams at last week’s Auckland Classic, highlighting the challenges she faces returning to regular competition after limited appearances in recent years.
Despite the loss, Williams will now turn her focus to Melbourne, where she has received a wildcard entry into the Australian Open. This will be her first appearance at the tournament in five years and will also make her the oldest woman ever to compete in the main draw of the year’s opening Grand Slam, which begins on Sunday. A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams continues to defy expectations by extending her remarkable career.
Elsewhere in Hobart, two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova also endured a disappointing result. The Czech star was knocked out in a closely contested three-set match by American Peyton Stearns, losing 6-4 1-6 7-6 after requiring treatment on her knee during the encounter. Krejcikova, who has dealt with injury issues over the past year, had shown promising form recently but was unable to close out the match.
Tatjana Maria, herself 38 and a mother of two, will advance to the last 16 to face Hungary’s Anna Bondar. Maria has enjoyed a resurgence in form, having last year become the oldest WTA Tour singles champion since Serena Williams in 2020. With the Australian Open just days away, the Hobart results underline the unpredictable nature of the final warm-up events on the WTA calendar.