Venus Williams has kicked off her 2026 season with a display of remarkable resilience, narrowly losing her opening singles match at the ASB Classic in Auckland. The legendary American, now 45, was defeated by fifth seed Magda Linette in a three-set battle that lasted over two hours.
A Battle of Generations on Court
The match on Tuesday 6th January was a poignant clash of eras. Magda Linette, the world number 52, was just two years old when Williams played her first professional match. Despite the 12-year age gap, Williams demonstrated she remains a formidable force. The final scoreline read 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in favour of the Polish player, but the contest was far closer than it suggests.
This match marked Williams' 1,101st singles outing on the WTA Tour. Her performance, characterised by powerful serving and aggressive groundstrokes, will provide a significant confidence boost as she travels to Australia for the Hobart International and the Australian Open. She has received wild-card entries for both tournaments.
Williams' Fitness and Fighting Spirit Shine
Appearing fit and moving freely around the court, Williams served seven aces and struck the ball with authority from both wings. She started strongly, breaking back after trailing 5-2 in the first set, which Linette eventually claimed in 51 minutes. Williams then raised her level in the second, breaking Linette's serve in the sixth and tenth games with a combination of deep drives to the corners and sharp winners down the line.
"Look at the level she brought. She moved really great," a relieved Linette said in a courtside interview. "She was really hitting well, especially when she was running to the open space. It was really impressive and I really had to stay calm."
Looking Ahead to Melbourne
The Auckland encounter was Williams' first singles match since a first-round loss at the US Open in August 2025. She played only three tournaments last year, but notably beat Peyton Stearns in July to become the second-oldest woman to win a WTA Tour match, behind only Martina Navratilova.
Currently ranked 582nd in the world, Williams reflected on her mindset coming into the event. "The biggest pressure is the one we put on ourselves, right?" she told reporters. "So hopefully I can look back with the 20/20 vision while I’m in the present, like just let it go, let it flow, enjoy it and be in the moment."
In the decisive third set, Linette secured a crucial break in the fifth game to take control. Williams also competed in the doubles draw alongside top seed Elina Svitolina on Monday, losing their opening match. Her spirited performance in singles, however, sends a clear message that her competitive fire burns as brightly as ever as she targets more history in Melbourne.
