Venus Williams' Austin exit reshapes ATX Open draw and deepens questions about her 2026 form

Why this matters now: Venus Williams' early loss in Austin changes who advances in a draw that had a potential inter-generational matchup and sharpens scrutiny of her restart. venus williams arrived in Austin on a wildcard after a comeback last summer; her defeat in the first round means the draw — fan interest and wildcard narratives — plays out differently than expected.

Immediate consequences for Venus Williams and the ATX Open draw

Tomljanovic's victory stops a planned path that could have produced a second-round meeting between Venus Williams and No. 2 seed Iva Jovic. Instead, Iva Jovic, who advanced 6-3, 6-4 over Anna Blinkova, will face Ajla Tomljanovic for the first time. That switch removes an inter-generational storyline and pushes Tomljanovic deeper into a draw she reached the semifinals of last year.

Match turning points and Tomljanovic's run

Ajla Tomljanovic came from 3-1 down in the first set to defeat Venus Williams 6-4, 6-1 in the ATX Open first round. Venus, age 45, began strongly: she broke immediately, produced a pair of vintage winners and consolidated for 2-0 with a backhand pass down the line. She was unable to convert two points to hold for 4-2 and later held two points to level at 5-5 but was denied by a spun sliced winner that caught the top of the tape.

Tomljanovic, a 32-year-old Australian and last year’s Austin semifinalist, seized control in the second set by winning two key multi-deuce games, saving two break points to hold for 2-1, then converting her fourth break point to move to a decisive 5-1 lead and close out the match 6-4, 6-1. Tomljanovic had not previously faced Venus and said she felt nerves against a player she called an inspiration; she also described channeling how she played in a major past match four years ago, a US Open third-round victory over Serena that ended up being the last defeat Serena suffered before her 2022 retirement (scoreline from that match was 7-5, 6-7, 6-1).

It's easy to overlook, but Tomljanovic's references to that Serena match have been a through-line for her mental approach in recent years, and this result makes her one of only two players undefeated against both Williams sisters.

What Galfi's win did to Andreescu's return

Dalma Galfi halted Bianca Andreescu's comeback bid, winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a match that lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes. The Canadian bounced back from a slow start, using fine net play to overturn a 4-2 deficit and take the second set. In the third, she appeared to stave off elimination by saving two match points and holding two points to level at 5-5, but Galfi raised her level and found a series of winners to finish the contest; the account of the final sequence is unclear in the provided context.

Andreescu — the 2019 US Open champion — was playing her first WTA main-draw match since Tokyo last October. In January she chose not to play the Australian swing and instead compiled a 13-1 record at ITF level, including two titles.

Venus Williams' season — recovery, results and schedule

venus williams returned to tennis last summer after a 16-month break and won her comeback match in Washington DC against Peyton Stearns. Despite that, her 2026 record entering Austin stood at 0-3. She began the year at the ASB Classic in Auckland and lost her opening match to Magda Linette, followed by a defeat to Tatjana Maria at the Hobart International and an Australian Open first-round loss against Olga Danilovic.

Williams accepted a wildcard into the ATX Open and was scheduled to start her singles campaign against Ajla Tomljanovic. She and Peyton Stearns were also set to pair in doubles against Taylor Townsend and Storm Hunter. Commentary in the coverage praised her for taking on events, finishing matches with respect for opponents and underlined that, as a seven-time Grand Slam champion and a firm fan favorite at age 45, she can expect continued wildcard interest.

Quick Q&A

• Q: How does this affect Venus Williams' momentum? A: The loss extends a difficult start to the season (0-3) and removes the chance for a noted second-round meeting in Austin.
• Q: Who benefits from Tomljanovic's win? A: Tomljanovic advances and will meet Iva Jovic; she adds to a run that included a semifinal showing in Austin last year and a high-profile US Open win four years ago.
• Q: What signals would change the picture? A: A match win in the next event or deeper runs from Venus would alter momentum; for Andreescu, further main-draw appearances after Tokyo would clarify her comeback progress.

Here's the part that matters: two former Grand Slam champions entered Austin as wildcards and both exited in their opening matches on Tuesday — a result that changes narratives, matchups and the immediate opportunities each player will have in the near term.

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Note: some match descriptions in the provided text end abruptly and are unclear in the provided context.