After an early doubles exit alongside Elina Svitolina, Venus Williams launched her 2026 singles season in Auckland with a gritty three-set battle, ultimately falling 6–4 4–6 6–2 to fifth seed Magda Linette at the ASB Classic.
At 45, Williams was facing an opponent who was just two years old when she began her professional career. The 33-year-old Linette, ranked No. 52, needed more than two hours of sustained focus to overcome a player who refused to give ground, physically or mentally, in what marked Williams’ 1,101st singles match at tour level.