In-form Swiss Belinda Bencic has sent Venus Williams crashing out of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Venus Williams Photo: photosport
Runner-up to sister Serena in last year's final, Venus won't be keeping the trophy in the family after falling 6-3 7-5 in a first-round boilover.
With Serena unable to defend her crown in 2018 following the birth last September of her first child, Venus's early exit means there will be no Williams sibling in the second round of the Open for the first time in 21 years.
Bencic, who lost to Serena in the first round last year, was jubilant in victory on Rod Laver Arena, after most didn't give her a chance when the draw came out.
"Oh, honestly, the first reaction from everyone was 'oh bad luck'," Bencic said.
"Of course it would be nice to play someone easier first round; get your rhythm.
"On the other hand, it's a big court and when I was growing up I never thought I would get the chance to play Venus and Serena and now I'm getting the chance and I really enjoyed it."
Roger Federer's family were conspicuous supporters in the stands as the men's defending champion's Hopman Cup-winning teammate set up a second-round date with either Swede Johanna Larsson or Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum.
earlier Sloane Stephens was the first big casualty at this year's tournament as the U.S. Open champion tumbled out in the first round against China's Zhang Shuai.
The American 13th seed, who is without a win since her triumph at Flushing Meadows, looked assured as she took the opening set but Zhang hit back to win 2-6 7-6(2) 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena.
Stephens was not the only new member of the grand slam winners' club in action today, though French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko fared far better with 6-1 6-4 defeat of Italian Francesca Schiavone in the first match on Rod Laver Arena.
Schiavone, who won the French Open in 2010, threatened to take the second set before Latvian Ostapenko, seeded seven, clicked back into gear to ease through.
Sloane Stephens Photo: Photosport
Stephens was assured in winning the first set but Zhang, who reached the quarter-finals in 2016 as a qualifier, found her rhythm and after taking the second set on a tiebreak dominated the decider with her American opponent wilting in the face of the pinpoint accuracy of the world number 34.
Stephens, who withdrew from the Brisbane warmup event with a right knee injury, reached the semi-finals in Melbourne in 2013 but lost in the first round in 2015 and 2016 and missed out through injury last year.
ASB Classic women's winner Julia Goerges has won her opening round match, the 12th seeded German beat Sofia Kenin of the United States in straight sets.
French Open champion and 7th seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia also had a first up victory.
-AAP
