Venus Williams, a legendary figure in the world of tennis, began her new season by participating in the tournament in Hobart. Despite having the support of the crowd, the 45-year-old athlete was unable to advance past the first round, losing to German player Tatjana Maria with a score of 4:6, 3:6.
This match made history in world tennis, as the combined age of the players was 83 years, setting a record for WTA singles matches. The seven-time Grand Slam champion started the match actively, breaking her opponent's serve. However, Tatjana Maria, who is 38 years old, responded with two breaks and confidently closed out the first set, while in the second set she maintained her advantage.
This tournament holds special significance for Venus, as it is an important stage in her preparation for the Australian Open, where she received a special invitation (wild card). This start in Melbourne will be a landmark event for the tennis player:
She will return to the courts of Australia after a five-year hiatus.
Venus will become the oldest participant in the history of the main tournament, surpassing the record of Japanese tennis player Kimiko Date, who played in the Melbourne courts in 2015 at the age of 44.
The tournament in Hobart also brought other surprises. Among those eliminated was two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova, who lost in a tense battle to American Peyton Stearns with a score of 4:6, 6:1, 6:7 (4).
