Hobart International: Venus Williams loses to Tatjana Maria in singles match

Being a fan favorite in sports is never easy, especially when your child is a big supporter of your opponent.

That’s what Tatjana Maria faced when she beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-3 at the Hobart International on Tuesday.

Germany’s Maria traveled with her two daughters, Charlotte, 12, and Cecilia, 4, who are big fans of the American great.

“Everyone loves Venus – I love her too!” Maria said in an on-court interview.

“My daughters are Venus fans, so it’s tough. They say they do it for me, but…

“Charlotte was absolutely delighted – the first reaction was ‘Oh my God, this is great, I want to see Venus fight you’. She was absolutely delighted.

“We lived across the street, we were neighbors and I knew her well.

“It’s such an honor to play her because I’ve never played her before.”