Venus Williams, 45, exits in first round of final Australian Open warm-up

Venus Williams was knocked out of the Hobart International in straight sets on Tuesday, while two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova also suffered a defeat, dealing early blows to their preparations for the Australian Open.

It marked a second consecutive first-round exit for the 45-year-old Williams, following her loss at last week’s Auckland Classic. The seven-time Grand Slam champion battled for 87 minutes against Germany’s Tatjana Maria before falling 6-4, 6-3, despite saving six of nine break points.

Williams will now turn her focus to Melbourne, where she has received a wildcard entry to the Australian Open, her first appearance at the tournament in five years. Having played only sporadically in recent seasons, she is set to become the oldest woman to compete at the year’s opening Grand Slam, which begins on Sunday.

Maria, the world number 42, advanced to the last 16, where she will face Hungary’s Anna Bondar. The 38-year-old German enjoyed a career milestone last year by becoming the oldest WTA Tour singles champion since Serena Williams in 2020, with her title win at Queen’s Club in London.

Elsewhere, world number 55 Krejcikova was eliminated in a hard-fought match against American Peyton Stearns, losing 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4). The Czech required medical treatment on her knee during the match and continued with heavy strapping.

Krejcikova, a former world number two who won the French Open in 2021 and Wimbledon in 2024, had ended her 2025 season early due to a knee injury but returned to action at last week’s United Cup, where she recorded two wins. She missed last year’s Australian Open with a back injury.

Stearns will next face Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, who defeated defending champion McCartney Kessler in three sets to reach the next round.