MELBOURNE, Australia — Venus Williams tried to rally, winning two games and getting another break-point chance after falling a set and 5-0 behind, before her 16th trip to the Australian Open finished in a first-round loss to Johanna Konta on Tuesday.
Williams, 35, a seven-time major winner and the eighth seed, trudged off Rod Laver Arena, waving to the crowd at 1:55 p.m. on the second day of the tournament after a surprising 6-4, 6-2 loss to the No. 47-ranked Konta, a Sydney-born British player who was making her debut in the main draw at the Australian Open after losing twice previously in qualifying.