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Grand Slam Shocker: Stars Exit Australian Open Early
21 Jan
Summary
- Four Grand Slam singles champions were eliminated in the first round.
- Venus Williams lost after a significant comeback attempt in the final set.
- Sofia Kenin suffered her fourth consecutive Australian Open defeat.
The 2026 Australian Open has been marked by significant early exits, including four former Grand Slam singles champions. Venus Williams, a seven-time major winner, was eliminated despite leading in the final set against Olga Danilovic. The American legend's defeat, following a comeback attempt, raises questions about her future at the tournament.
Joining Williams on the sidelines are fellow American Grand Slam champions Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin. Stephens' comeback bid was halted by Karolina Pliskova, while Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, suffered her fourth consecutive first-round loss at the event.
Barbora Krejcikova, a former French Open and Wimbledon champion, was the only non-American Grand Slam singles winner to be knocked out early. Despite her past successes, recent injury struggles have seen her ranking fall, leading to a difficult draw against seeded opponent Diana Shnaider. These early upsets set a dramatic tone for the rest of the tournament.
