Venus Williams is set to make history as the oldest female player to compete in the Australian Open main draw at the age of 45.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has been awarded the final women’s wildcard for the tournament, which is set to begin on January 18.
Venus Williams last competed at Melbourne Park in 2021, where she was defeated by Italy’s Sara Errani in the second round.
Reflecting on her return, Venus Williams expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”
By participating, the American tennis legend will surpass Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she played in the 2015 Australian Open, becoming the oldest female player to ever compete in the event.
Venus Williams, who has twice been a runner-up at the Australian Open, will also compete in the Hobart International warm-up tournament, starting on January 12, where she will be joined by Britain’s Emma Raducanu.
Venus Williams, a former world No. 1, has not competed outside of the United States since 2023. She made a brief return at the 2023 US Open, where she became the third-oldest woman to participate in the tournament during the Open Era.
Unfortunately, she was eliminated in the first round, losing 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to Czech Karolina Muchova.
