Tennis - Australian Open - First Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 15, 2019. Venus Williams of the U.S. reacts after winning the match against Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Venus Williams celebrated her 19th main draw appearance at the Australian Open with a come-from-behind 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2 victory over 25th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu on Tuesday, marking a successful day for some of the sport's oldest active competitors.
The 38-year-old, who is unseeded for the first time since 2014 and is the oldest player in the women's draw, will meet France's Alize Cornet in the second round.
It was a good day for some of the veterans of the sport after big serving 39-year-old Ivo Karlovic, the oldest male player, served his way into the second round against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, a man 18 years his junior.
Tennis - Australian Open - First Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 15, 2019. Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu in action during the match against Venus Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Title contender Roger Federer, aged 37, comfortably won his first round match on Monday.
(Reporting by Jonathan Barrett in Melbourne; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
Tennis - Australian Open - First Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 15, 2019. Venus Williams of the U.S. signs autographs after winning the match against Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTennis - Australian Open - First Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 15, 2019. Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu in action during the match against Venus Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTennis - Australian Open - First Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 15, 2019. Venus Williams of the U.S. in action during the match against Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTennis - Australian Open - First Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 15, 2019. Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu in action during the match against Venus Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTennis - Australian Open - First Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 15, 2019. Venus Williams of the U.S. in action during the match against Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
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