United States tennis legend Venus Williams returns to the Australian Open for the primary time since 2021.
Printed On 2 Jan 2026
Seven-time main singles champion Venus Williams has been handed a wildcard to the Australian Open aged 45, turning into the oldest girl to play on the season-opening tennis Grand Slam.
The American, who has performed solely a restricted variety of singles matches lately, will compete in the principle draw at Melbourne Park for the primary time since 2021.
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“I’m excited to be again in Australia and searching ahead to competing throughout the Australian summer time,” Williams mentioned on Friday.
“I’ve had so many unimaginable reminiscences there and I’m grateful for the chance to return to a spot that has meant a lot to my profession.”
Williams is a five-time Wimbledon champion and in addition received two US Opens.
She was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017.
She’s going to grow to be the oldest girl to play on the Australian Open since Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she misplaced within the first spherical in 2015.
Williams, a four-time Australian Open doubles champion, is about to start her preparations for the January 18-February 1 match on the Auckland Traditional subsequent week, having returned to the circuit on the US Open final yr after a 16-month break.
She’s going to then head to the Hobart Worldwide instantly earlier than Melbourne.
Two-time Grand Slam champion and fellow American Coco Gauff mentioned it was “unimaginable” to see Williams nonetheless turning up for tournaments.
“She’s a legend of the game, so it is going to be cool to see her again in motion,” she mentioned.
“It’s unimaginable the longevity of her profession. She’s one of many folks I appeared as much as, so wanting ahead to seeing her again on court docket.”
