VENUS Williams suffered heartbreak in her first Australian Open showdown in five years – after losing the deciding set to Olga Danilovic.
The tennis legend, 45, entered the competition for the 22nd time after bagging a wildcard berth.
But Williams was unable to build on winning the first set and crashed out after an almighty comeback from Serbian star Danilovic.
The American great prepared for the Australian Open by competing in warm-up events in Auckland and Hobart.
Williams had not competed in a Grand Slam since last September, when she exited the US Open in the first round and reached the quarter-finals alongside Leylah Fernandez in the doubles.
And the seven-time major singles champion went into her clash with Danilovic knowing that it had been a long road back to Melbourne Park.
The tennis icon, who first featured in the Australian Open all the way back in 1998, said, “There were periods where I was super busy, so I’d have to take a week off here or three days off there.
“But, for the most part, I was training and trying to get myself back in the groove.
“At this point, I need to be kind to myself because I’m getting so many things right.
“But there had been a lack of playing matches. I’m playing well. I’m setting myself up each point to win points and controlling the points.
“That’s exactly how I’d want to play, and I’m playing the tennis I need to play.”
Williams took a four-game lead in the final set, only for Danilovic to storm back into the contest and clinch the next six to book her place in the second round.
It would have been the former world No1’s first major victory in five years if she managed to get over the line.
Williams has reached the Australian Open final twice during her sensational career – in 2003 and 2017 – but she lost on both occasions.
The last time she lifted a Grand Slam trophy was in 2008, when she beat sister Serena Williams in straight sets at Wimbledon.
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