VENUS WILLIAMS lost 6-4, 6-3 to Tatjana Maria in the first round at the Hobart International today, less than a week before her appearance at the Australian Open.

The 45-year-old Williams received a wild card entry for the first Grand Slam event of the year. She also had a wild card to play in Hobart, where she lost to sixth-seeded Maria in a match lasting almost one-and-a-half hours.

Williams also lost her first-round match at Auckland in New Zealand last week.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, who is 576th in the world rankings, broke 38-year-old Maria’s serve in the opening set. But Williams dropped serve twice, handing the set to Maria, who is 42nd on the WTA rankings.

Tournament officials said the match featured the highest combined age — 83 years — of a singles match in the history of the WTA.

“The crowd was amazing. Usually I play a really big game and it’s fun to watch,” Williams said. “I felt I couldn’t play that with the wind. I felt bad I wasn’t able to give that performance I usually give. I was in control until I wasn’t … I just need to keep going and doing that and earn my stripes. I’ve been away a while.”