Venus Williams’ 2026 singles campaign began with a hard-fought battle in Auckland, where the seven-time Grand Slam champion was edged out in three sets by fifth seed Magda Linette at the WTA Tour event in New Zealand.
The 45-year-old American delivered an impressive performance before going down 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to the world No. 52. The generational contrast between the two players was striking, Linette was just two years old when Williams played her first professional singles match, yet the contest remained fiercely competitive for more than two hours.
The encounter marked the 1,101st singles match of Williams’ storied WTA Tour career. More importantly, it offered encouraging signs as she prepares for a busy Australian swing that includes the Hobart International and the Australian Open, both of which she has entered via wild card.
Auckland was Williams’ first singles appearance since her opening-round loss at the U.S. Open last August against Karolina Muchova. Limited by injuries and a selective schedule, Williams competed in just three tournaments in 2025, but made history in July by defeating Peyton Stearns to become the second-oldest woman, after Martina Navratilova – to win a WTA Tour singles match.
Against Linette, Williams looked sharp and physically assured. She moved smoothly across the baseline, struck the ball with authority from both wings, and fired seven aces, repeatedly pushing her opponent into uncomfortable positions.
“Look at the level she brought. She moved really great,” Linette said in a courtside television 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. She pushes you to a spot you don’t want to be and that’s where I was for a while, so I’m really glad I was able to refresh and come back with a little bit better game.”
Currently ranked No. 582, Williams has long shared a special connection with Auckland. She captured the title there in 2015 by defeating Caroline Wozniacki, securing the 41st of her 46 career WTA Tour singles trophies. Returning again this year, she spoke openly about embracing perspective rather than pressure.
“The biggest pressure is the one we put on ourselves, right?” Williams said. “And then when you look back and you’re like, ‘it wasn’t such a big deal.’ “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. That’s not easy to do and that’s why people love sports, right?”
Williams began the match confidently, serving an ace in her opening game. Linette gained the early advantage with a break in the fifth game and went on to claim the first set in 51 minutes. The American responded strongly in the second, breaking serve twice, striking deep into the corners and finishing points decisively at the net to level the match. The deciding set swung Linette’s way after a crucial break in the fifth game, allowing the Pole to close out the contest despite continued resistance from Williams.
Earlier in the week, Williams partnered Elina Svitolina in the doubles draw, where they were beaten 7-6 (7), 6-1 by Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala.
Svitolina, the tournament’s top seed, also returned to singles action on Tuesday with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory over Varvara Gracheva. The Ukrainian was playing her first singles match since stepping away from the tour in September to focus on her mental health.
While the result did not fall her way, Williams’ performance in Auckland reinforced her enduring competitiveness, and hinted that her presence in Australia over the coming weeks could once again command attention on the sport’s biggest stages.
