At the age of 45, Williams faced an opponent who was only 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 tour-level singles match.
Although the result disappointed her, the performance itself could prove much more important as Williams prepares for a busy road in Australia, where she will play the Hobart International, followed by the Australian Open. The performance in Auckland came via a wildcard, as did her participation in Hobart and the first Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne.
Tuesday’s match was also Williams’ first singles appearance since the US Open last August, where she bowed out in the opening round against Karolina Muchova. Her 2025 season was intentionally light, limited to just three tournaments.
Any questions about her readiness were quickly answered in court. Williams, ranked 582 and a former 2015 Auckland champion, moved freely, hitting the ball cleanly from both wings and punctuating her service games with seven aces. Her timing and coverage on the field repeatedly forced Linette into awkward positions, earning praise from the Pole after the match.
“It was really impressive and I really had to stay calm,” Linette said in an interview at the court. “She pushes you to a place you don’t want to be and that’s where I was for a while, so I’m really happy that I’ve been able to freshen up and come back with a little better game.” (via ESPN)
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