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MELBOURNE (AP) – Venus Williams, at 45 years old, is set to become the oldest player to compete in singles at the Australian Open, a remarkable return for the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
The American icon, who last won a major title at Wimbledon in 2008, received a tournament invitation and will face Serbian Olga Danilović in the afternoon session.
Zverev, Paolini, and Alcaraz Advance at Australian Open
Several top players secured their spots in the second round of the Australian Open on Sunday, while a former champion made a highly anticipated return to the court.
- Third-seeded Alexander Zverev battled back from a first-set loss to defeat Gabriel Diallo.
- Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini dominated Aliaksandra Sasnovich in straight sets.
- Venus Williams will compete as the oldest player in the tournament, marking a significant moment in her storied career.
Third seed Alexander Zverev overcame a slow start to defeat Gabriel Diallo 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini delivered a swift victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich, winning 6-1, 6-2 in the opening match on Melbourne’s main court.Paolini secured the first set in just 27 minutes and quickly closed out the second.
“I was focused I think the whole time, so that was a good thing,” Paolini said. “And it’s not easy to play the first match at the Slams on a big court,but I’m happy with my performance.”
Italian twentieth seed Flavio Cobolli suffered an upset, becoming the first seeded man to be eliminated from the tournament, falling 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-1 to British qualifier Arthur Fery.
Also securing wins were 18th-seeded Argentine franciso Cerúndolo, who defeated Zhang zhizhen 6-3, 7-6 (0), 6-3, and 32nd-seeded Corentin Moutet, who beat Tristan Schoolkate 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-3, finishing with an underarm serve on match point.
On the women’s side, 12th seed Elina Svitolina defeated cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-1, and Maria Sakkari overcame Leolia Jeanjean 6-4, 6-2.
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa vondrousova withdrew due to a shoulder injury before her scheduled first-round match, opening a spot in the draw for taylor Townsend, who will face Hailey Baptiste.
In a nearly two-and-a-half-hour match between Americans on court 13,Baptiste emerged victorious,defeating Townsend 6-3,6-7 (3),6-3.
The night session at Rod Laver Arena featured top contenders Aryna Sabalenka, facing Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, and Carlos Alcaraz, taking on Adam Walton.
Sabalenka is aiming for her third Australian Open title, having reached the last three finals and won two. She was runner-up last year, losing to Madison Keys.
Alcaraz is attempting to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam. The 22-year-old spaniard has already won two titles in the other three Grand Slam tournaments but has yet to advance past the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.
Second seed Jannik Sinner, a two-time defending australian Open champion, has, alongside Alcaraz, won the last eight Grand Slam trophies.
Williams, who married Italian Andrea Preti in December, first played the Australian Open in 1998, reaching the quarterfinals in her fourth Grand Slam tournament. She has never won the Australian Open, reaching the finals in 2003 and 2017, both times losing to her sister, Serena. She boasts five Wimbledon titles and two US Open championships.
