Williams loses golden oldie clash in final Australian Open warm-up

It was the second consecutive tournament in which the 45-year-old Williams had crashed at the first hurdle after last week's Auckland Classic. She survived 87 minutes in Hobart against German world number 42 Maria, who is 38, before slumping 6-4, 6-3, having gamely saved six of nine break points. The first meeting between the pair set a new record for the highest combined age for a main draw match since the WTA Tour was founded in 1973. Maria said her daughters Charlotte, 12, and Cecilia, four...