HONG KONG (AP) Venus Williams lost to China's Li Na 6-3, 7-6 (3) at the Hong Kong Classic exhibition tournament, completing her only warmup event for the Australian Open with two losses.
The American, who is returning from a left knee injury, lost her serve in the eighth game and Li held to take the first set. The seven-time Grand Slam winner continued to be pressured on her serve in the second set.
Williams saved the first break point in the seventh game but lost the second to go down 4-3. Williams saved match point trailing 3-5, then broke in the next game to even the score. But Li powered through the tiebreaker, securing the win with a forehand winner down the line.
Earlier, 2009 U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin beat Hong Kong's Zhang Ling 6-3, 6-1.