Germany’s Tatjana Maria on Tuesday celebrated a prestigious victory against seven-time Grand Slam winner, Venus Williams, just a few days ahead of the Australian Open.
Maria defeated Williams 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Hobart International.
Speaking after her win, she said that everyone loved Venus, and she loved her too.
”We live around the corner, we are neighbours. I know her very well. My daughter is also a fan of Venus, and the match was a difficult one for me,” she said.
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Meanwhile in the last 16, Maria will face Hungary’s Anna Bondar, who advanced after a 6-0, 6-1 win against Ella Seidel.
Williams, however, has received a wild card to play at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.
She will celebrate her return to Melbourne for the first time after five years and at 45 years old.
She is to become the oldest woman to compete in the main draw of the Australian Open as she surpasses Kimiko Date, who was 44 in 2015.
Williams has reached the Australian Open final twice but both times was defeated by her sister Serena.
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