Venus still a force at 45, despite Auckland loss

Williams started strongly and had her first ace in her opening service game. She was broken by Linette in the fifth game and trailed 5-2 before breaking back. Linette took the first set in 51 minutes.

In the second set, Williams broke in the sixth and 10th games. She hit hard to the corners, then was able to pull out sharp winners down the line. She also went to the net effectively.

Linette broke decisively in the fifth game of the third set.

Williams combined with Elina Svitolina to play doubles on Monday, losing 7-6 (7), 6-1 to Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala.

At another warm-up event for the Aussie Open, women's top ace Aryna Sabalenka overwhelmed No 50 Cristina Bucsa 6-0, 6-1 on Tuesday to start her title defense at the Brisbane International.

The Belarusian star said after the win that her "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match against Australian men's star Nick Kyrgios in Dubai was "a bit of fun" and served her up a good tuneup for the Australian Open.

The exhibition attracted some criticism but also, at least as far as Sabalenka was concerned, a lot of positive attention.

"It was fun. It was a great challenge. I think we brought so many eyes on tennis," she said. "What I'm sad about is that some people got it wrong, the whole idea of that event. And I don't care.

"I feel like there's always going to be people who don't like you, don't respect you, don't support you, but there's so many people who support me, who really cheer me on and who find inspiration in me. I'm focusing on that part."

Sabalenka's focus now is getting back onto a winning roll in Australia. She won back-to-back Australian Opens in 2023 and 2024 and was on a 20-match winning streak at Melbourne Park until a loss in last year's final to Madison Keys.