Venus slumps to first round Australian Open defeat
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-16 15:42

She closed out the match by winning the third set 9-7 as the errors began to creep into Williams' game.

The American recovered from 4-2 down in the final set to serve for the match at 6-5 but failed to take her chance, allowing Pironkova to pounce and claim the biggest win of her career.

"I just tried to tell myself to stop missing. I could not keep it in," Williams said.

"I was just struggling so bad at that point. I just lost it. It happens to the best of us.

"I think this result is an indication that you cannot make 70 unforced errors and expect to win a match. That's pretty much what it is."

Jelena Dokic's return to the Australian Open ended in disappointment when she was knocked out by Virginie Razzano 3-6 7-6 6-1.

Dokic, back in Australia after five years of self-imposed exile, squandered two match points before losing the second set and Razzano went on to control the deciding third set.