ASB Classic loses Venus Williams after veteran’s late wobble

Another big name is out of the ASB Classic after Venus Williams suffered a second round defeat to China’s Lin Zhu.

American tennis great Venus Williams in action during her first round win over Katie Volynets in the first round of the ASB Classic.
Photo: Photosport

The American veteran was beaten 3-6 6-2 7-5 in a match moved indoors midway through the second set when the Auckland rain returned on Thursday.

It came after Williams’ compatriot and one-time Grand Slam winner Sloane Stephens was beaten in her first round match.

Wet weather forced several first round matches indoors on Wednesday but a break in the weather arrived on Thursday, allowing Williams and Zhu onto centre court just after midday.

However, the rain only held off long enough for the seven-time Grand Slam champion to win the first set and Zhu to fight back and take a 4-2 lead in the second.

The Chinese player comfortably levelled at a set-all once the match resumed indoors.

Williams mustered all she could in the third and gained the upper hand but when she failed to serve out at 5-4, Zhu capitalised to win the next two games and go through to the quarterfinals.

Earlier on the other indoor court, Montenegro’s Danka Kovinich was the first player into the last eight after she outlasted American Lauren Davis 4-6 6-3 6-2.

Young Spaniard Rebeka Masarova continued her impressive run to reach the quarterfinals with a 6-1 6-4 win over Anna Blinkova of Russia.

The other remaining second round matches were also set to be completed on the indoor courts on Thursday.

Included in those matches were top seed Coco Gauff against 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, British star Emma Raducanu and third seed Leylah Fernandez.

– RNZ