Venus Williams, Aged Forty-Five, Loses First Singles Match of 2026 at Auckland Classic
Legendary American falls in three sets to Magda Linette in season opener ahead of Australian summer swing
Venus Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, suffered defeat in her opening singles match of the 2026 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, as she prepares for a historic return to the Australian Open.
Williams, aged forty-five, battled fifth-seeded Magda Linette in a thrilling three-set encounter that ended 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in favour of the Polish opponent.
This match marked Williams’ first singles outing since the US Open in August 2025 and the start of her campaign on the Women’s Tennis Association tour ahead of the Australian summer swing.
Williams demonstrated flashes of her renowned power and athleticism against Linette, producing sharp groundstrokes and seven aces, but ultimately the younger player prevailed in the decisive set.
The match drew widespread attention as a showcase of Williams’ enduring competitiveness and resilience, even as she navigates the later stages of an extraordinary career that has spanned more than three decades.
After the loss, Williams was warmly applauded by the crowd, who acknowledged her spirited performance against a top-seeded opponent.
The American icon has received main-draw wild-card entries into both the Hobart International and the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park, where she will become the oldest woman ever to compete in the main singles draw at the season’s first Grand Slam.
Having reached the Australian Open final twice in her career, Williams is set to make her return to Melbourne for the first time since 2021, seeking to add to her remarkable legacy and compete among the game’s rising stars.
Despite the setback in Auckland, she has expressed her intention to enjoy the process and leverage her vast experience in the tournaments ahead.
Williams, aged forty-five, battled fifth-seeded Magda Linette in a thrilling three-set encounter that ended 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in favour of the Polish opponent.
This match marked Williams’ first singles outing since the US Open in August 2025 and the start of her campaign on the Women’s Tennis Association tour ahead of the Australian summer swing.
Williams demonstrated flashes of her renowned power and athleticism against Linette, producing sharp groundstrokes and seven aces, but ultimately the younger player prevailed in the decisive set.
The match drew widespread attention as a showcase of Williams’ enduring competitiveness and resilience, even as she navigates the later stages of an extraordinary career that has spanned more than three decades.
After the loss, Williams was warmly applauded by the crowd, who acknowledged her spirited performance against a top-seeded opponent.
The American icon has received main-draw wild-card entries into both the Hobart International and the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park, where she will become the oldest woman ever to compete in the main singles draw at the season’s first Grand Slam.
Having reached the Australian Open final twice in her career, Williams is set to make her return to Melbourne for the first time since 2021, seeking to add to her remarkable legacy and compete among the game’s rising stars.
Despite the setback in Auckland, she has expressed her intention to enjoy the process and leverage her vast experience in the tournaments ahead.
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