Venus Williams put up a fight but was finally subdued 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 on Thursday by Jelena Ostapenko to exit the WTA Birmingham tournament.
The 43-year-old Williams, who received a wild card singles entry into Wimbledon, forced her Latvian opponent to rally while trailing 0-2, 15-40 in the deciding third set.
“She’s a great champion (who) hasn’t gone (away) anywhere,” Ostpaenko said.
“That’s always going to be with her. It’s great to play against players like her.
“She’s an idol to a lot of people so it was very special. Maybe that’s why I got a little bit tight in the second set.”
Ostapenko’s win kept five-time Wimbledon winner Williams from her first WTA quarter-final since 2019, with the veteran American rallying while trailing 3-5 in the second set and saving a match point.
Williams, who needed a medical timeout off court during the match, had won the pair’s previous two meetings, both played in 2017.
The American was competing for the first time since the start of January in Auckland.
