Auckland classic

Tatjana Maria: Germany's Tatjana Maria registered a 6-4, 6-3 win over Venus Williams in the first round of the Hobart International on Tuesday.

The first-ever meeting between the two players featured the oldest combined age between competitors, with Maria entering the tilt at age 38 and Williams at 45, since the 1973 founding of the WTA Tour by nearly three years.

Venus has received a wild card entry for the Australian Open, which is set to begin on January 18 in Melbourne. This will be the first major tournament of the year. She featured at the Hobart International as part of her preparation for the season’s first Grand Slam, but exited empty-handed after losing in the opening round.