Venus comes crashing to earth against Bondarenko

US tennis player Venus Williams poses for a picture during a press conference at the WTA Istanbul Cup in Istanbul on Jul 20, 2015. (AFP PHOTO/OZAN KOSE)

ISTANBUL: Top seed Venus Williams' bid to win the WTA Istanbul Cup ended at the first hurdle on Tuesday (Jul 21) as the American icon lost 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to Ukrainian qualifier Kateryna Bondarenko.

Williams, ranked 14 in the world, is no stranger to being upset by Bondarenko - the 28-year-old Ukrainian having beaten her when the American was third in the world in Toronto in 2009.

Bondarenko, who retired from the circuit at the end of 2012 before returning two years later, looked to be cruising at 6-4, 5-2 before 35-year-old Williams rediscovered her touch and fighting spirit and battled back to even serve for the set.

However, Bondarenko - a highest ranked 29 in 2009 - woke up from her mini slump and won 11 of the last 15 points to take the match. "I gave my best efforts today," Williams said after the match. "Your first match is never perfect. She's played matches in the qualification and just never missed today, making great shots all game long.

"I'm really sad. I came here to play and to win but I ran into an opponent that was just too hot today. On a day like today I'm upset - it's normal, it's human. I calm myself down and focus and come back. "That moment is that moment. We move on."

First round:

Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) bt Venus Williams (USA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)

Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) bt Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Alize Cornet (FRA) bt Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 6-3, 7-5

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) bt Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 6-2, 6-0

Francesca Schiavone (ITA) bt Sesil Karatantcheva (BUL) 6-0, 6-1

Camila Giorgi (ITA) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4)

Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) bt Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) 0-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3)

Kurumi Nara (JPN) bt Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 6-4, 7-6 (9/7)

Urszula Radwanska (POL) bt Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Alexandra Panova (RUS) bt Elizaveta Kulichkova (RUS) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1