Venus Williams' Austin exit reshapes wildcard picture as Tomljanovic and Galfi upend two former champions

Who feels the impact first is the player — and the wildcard ecosystem around her. venus williams arrived in Austin after an interrupted comeback and three straight losses this season, only to be stopped in the first round by Ajla Tomljanovic, 6-4, 6-1; the same day Dalma Galfi ended Bianca Andreescu's return in a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 2-hour-11-minute match. The results tighten the conversation about veteran wildcards, momentum, and how one upset ripples through a compact draw.

Impact on Venus Williams and the wildcard narrative

Venus Williams came to the ATX Open on a wildcard after returning last summer from a 16-month break and winning her comeback match in Washington DC against Peyton Stearns. Her 2026 record stood at 0-3 entering Austin, following opening losses at the ASB Classic in Auckland to Magda Linette, at the Hobart International to Tatjana Maria, and a first-round Australian Open loss to Olga Danilovic. She and Stearns were also slated to play doubles against Taylor Townsend and Storm Hunter.

Here's the part that matters: the loss to Ajla Tomljanovic removes the possibility of an inter-generational second-round tie between Venus and No. 2 seed Iva Jovic, who had advanced 6-3, 6-4 over Anna Blinkova. When Jovic was born in December 2007, Venus was already a six-time major champion and ranked No. 8 after a 50-11 season; instead, Jovic will meet Tomljanovic for the first time.

Match details: how Tomljanovic turned the tide

Tomljanovic trailed 3-1 in the opening set before engineering a comeback to win 6-4, 6-1. Venus, 45 years old, started strongly — breaking immediately with a pair of vintage winners and consolidating for 2-0 with a backhand pass down the line — while Tomljanovic produced consecutive double faults early on. Venus failed to convert two points to hold for 4-2, and later held two points to level at 5-5 but was denied when Tomljanovic produced a wildly spun slice that clipped the top of the tape.

The second set was closer than the score suggests. Tomljanovic took control by prevailing in two key multi-deuce games: she saved two break points to hold for 2-1, then converted her fourth break point later to push to 5-1 and seal the match 6-1.

Tomljanovic’s form, history with the Williams family and unbeaten note

Tomljanovic, a 32-year-old Australian and a semifinalist in Austin last year, had not previously faced Venus and acknowledged pre-match nerves while calling Venus an inspiration. Four years ago she also became the last player to beat Serena Williams before the latter's 2022 retirement, prevailing in the US Open third round, 7-5, 6-7, 6-1. The Austin win left Tomljanovic as one of only two players undefeated against both Williams sisters; the other is 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.

What's easy to miss is that Tomljanovic has leaned on that Serena match mentally in recent years, using it as a template for high-pressure moments.

Andreescu’s return and Galfi’s comeback rollercoaster

Bianca Andreescu was playing her first WTA main-draw match since Tokyo last October. In January she opted not to play the Australian swing and instead compiled a 13-1 record at ITF level, including two titles. Against Dalma Galfi in Austin, Andreescu rallied from a slow start to make the match a nailbiter: she showed fine net play to overturn a 4-2 deficit and take the second set, and in the third she recovered from 5-2 down, saving two match points and holding two points to level at 5-5. Galfi, however, lifted her level late and found a series of winners to close out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 win in 2 hours 11 minutes; the match description cuts off in the available account, so the final sequence is unclear in the provided context.

• Tomljanovic beat Venus Williams 6-4, 6-1 in the ATX Open first round.
• Dalma Galfi defeated Bianca Andreescu 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in 2 hours 11 minutes.
• Venus had arrived in Austin on a wildcard after a 16-month break and a 0-3 start to 2026.
• Andreescu was returning to WTA main draw action after Tokyo last October and had compiled a 13-1 ITF record in January with two titles.

What this shifts for the draw and near-term signals

The immediate effect is a reshuffled path in Austin: Iva Jovic, the No. 2 seed, advances without the inter-generational meeting with Venus and will face Tomljanovic for the first time. The broader signal touches wildcard policy and veteran appearances — Venus remains a major draw, a seven-time Grand Slam champion and firm fan favorite who can expect further wildcards despite the current run of losses, but her early exit illustrates the competitive risk when match form lags.

The real question now is whether Venus uses the next opportunities after Austin to rebuild match rhythm or leans into selective scheduling; details about subsequent plans are unclear in the provided context.

Key takeaways:

• Both Venus Williams and Bianca Andreescu — former Grand Slam champions using wildcards — lost opening matches in Austin.
• Tomljanovic’s win continues her strong relationship with the Austin event (semifinalist last year) and highlights her mental recall of a notable win over Serena four years ago.
• Andreescu showed resilience in a three-set match but was ultimately edged by Galfi in a contest that lasted 2 hours 11 minutes.
• When Iva Jovic was born in December 2007, Venus already had six majors; Jovic advanced 6-3, 6-4 over Anna Blinkova and will meet Tomljanovic next.

Timeline snapshot:

• Four years ago: Tomljanovic defeated Serena at the US Open (7-5, 6-7, 6-1).
• Last summer: Venus returned to tennis after a 16-month break and won in Washington DC against Peyton Stearns.
• 2026 season start: Venus went 0-3 before Austin (losses in Auckland, Hobart, Australian Open).

The bigger signal here is that a compact calendar and wildcard entries can elevate storyline risks: veteran names attract attention and entry access, but match outcomes still hinge on current form and momentum. Readers should watch how Venus and Andreescu schedule coming events and whether Tomljanovic and Galfi carry this momentum deeper into the draw.