Venus Williams Set for Australian Open Return

Venus Williams isn’t done with tennis just yet. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion is set to make her comeback at this year’s Australian Open after receiving a wild card entry. The event kicks off on January 18.

On Friday, tournament officials shared the news that the 45-year-old will return to Melbourne Park five years after her last appearance. Williams first played at the Australian Open 28 years ago.

Back in 1998, Venus famously faced her sister Serena Williams at the Australian Open but eventually fell to Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals of that tournament.

Interestingly, she also earned a wild card for the WTA tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, scheduled for November.

With this wild card, Williams becomes the oldest player in over 40 years to receive an Open Wild Card Invitation.

Her most recent match in Melbourne was in 2021. Williams has reached the finals twice but lost to her sister Serena in both 2003 and 2017.

“I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing in the Australian summer,” Williams expressed. “I have so many great memories there and am grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”

At Melbourne Park, her record stands at 54 wins and 21 losses. This tournament will mark her 22nd main event appearance.

Australian Open officials have indicated that she’s likely to become the oldest woman to compete in the main draw, surpassing Kimiko Date of Japan, who was 44 when she lost in the first round back in 2015.