Venus Williams fell to a three-set loss against Magda Linette on Tuesday in the first round of the ASB Classic.
After losing to Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic in the women’s doubles, Williams was defeated 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 by the Polish world number 52.
Williams will now look ahead to the Australian Open, where she has been given a wildcard.
The American star, a winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles, is one of the oldest players in history to have competed in WTA Tour events.
And on Tuesday, she joined an elite conversation with legendary Czech-American star Martina Navratilova.
Venus Williams has played five matches since turning 45 years old
As per OptaAce, since 1990, Venus Williams is only the second player aged 45 or over to play in five or more matches at WTA Tour level, along with Martina Navratilova.
Navratilova, who retired in 2006 months before her 50th birthday, played eight WTA Tour matches after turning 45.
Venus played her first match while aged 45 years old at the 2025 Washington Open.
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Few expected her to win her first match. After all, she was up against world number 35 Peyton Stearns.
However, Williams defied the odds, defeating Stearns 6-4, 6-4 in front of a jubilant Washington crowd.
After the match, Martina Navratilova admitted that she had been wrong about Venus’ comeback.
“I was thinking, ‘Oh, this isn’t going to end well,’” the 18-time Grand Slam champion told the WTA Tour.
“And how wrong was I? How wrong was I?
“What can you say — because it’s unbelievable. She beat a top-ranked player. I mean, hats off.”
Venus Williams’ Australian Open record
Venus Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in the Australian Open when she steps foot onto court in Melbourne later this month.
In a press conference at the ASB Classic, Williams responded in comedic fashion to the prospect of breaking the record.
She said: “I didn’t know that. Like I said, I’m going to keep up my beauty routine, keep moisturising.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
“Keep the antioxidants, eat healthy and [laughing] I’ll be the oldest good-looking, greatest skin, woman in the draw!”
