Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was knocked out of the Australian Open in straights sets by Swiss 20-year-old Belinda Bencic on Monday. The fifth seed and last year’s finalist was shocked 6-3, 7-5 in the first round by the world number 78 in just under two hours on Rod Laver Arena. The last time it happened Steffi Graf was world number one and Bencic was still two months away from being born. But the Swiss was not to be denied and put the pressure back on the Williams serve and levelled on her third break point. But Bencic was not to be denied, coming from 0-30 on the Williams serve at 6-5 with the help of a ferocious backhand winner to get to match point and secured a famous victory.

Source: The Guardian January 15, 2018 05:03 UTC