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MELBOURNE, January 2 – Venus Williams, a legendary figure in women’s tennis, has been granted the final women’s singles wild card entry into the 2026 Australian Open, tournament organizers announced Tuesday.
A Historic Return for a Tennis Icon
The 45-year-old Williams is poised to become the oldest woman to compete in the Australian Open, surpassing Kimiko Date’s record of 44 years set in 2015.
Key Highlights:
- Williams recently defeated Paighton Stearns, ranked 35th in the world, and set a new record for the oldest player to win a tour-level match.
- The 2026 Australian Open will be Williams’ first appearance at Melbourne Park since 2021 and her first tournament outside of the United States since 2023.
- She will also compete in the ‘Hobart International’ to prepare, facing Barbora Krejcikova and Emma Radukanu.
Throughout her illustrious career,Williams has reached the Australian Open singles final twice (2003,2017) and secured four doubles titles alongside her sister,Serena williams. Her overall record at the Australian Open stands at an extraordinary 54 wins and 21 losses.
Preparing for Melbourne
To sharpen her game and regain match fitness, Williams intends to participate in the ‘Hobart International’ tournament, where she has also received a wild card. She will share the court with fellow Grand Slam champions Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and Emma Radukanu of Great britain.
