She will go back in time. American Venus Williams will play in the main draws at the Australian Open and WTA Auckland tournament next month. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, whose last appearance on the court was at the US Open in September, then in doubles with her sister Serena, will feature in singles in Auckland, New Zealand, ahead of the Australian Open , which begins on January 16. This will be Venus Williams’ 22nd appearance at Melbourne Park, where she made her Australian Open debut 25 years ago and reached the final in 2003 and 2017. The former world No. years, his international singles ranking having dropped to 1007th place.
In her last performance, in 2021, she was eliminated in the second round. “I am very excited (at the prospect) of returning to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Open”rejoiced the player in a statement on Wednesday. “I’ve been competing (in Australia) for over 20 years now and I’m looking forward to building more memories at the tournament this year”she added.
She will warm up for Melbourne at the Auckland tournament, starting January 2, where she will be one of four Grand Slam winners in attendance, alongside former US Open champions Britain’s Emma Raducanu and American Sloane Stephens, and 2020 Australian Open champion, American Sofia Kenin. “I can’t wait to play my first tournament of the season in Auckland”assured Venus Williams, who won the tournament in 2015. “The tournament and the fans always make me feel welcome, and I look forward to participating in January”, she confided, enthusiastic. The eldest of the Williams sisters has won 49 titles in her career, including five Wimbledon titles and the US Open twice.