Venus Williams has been awarded a wild card for the women's singles at the Australian Open at the age of 45, making her the oldest woman to compete in the main draw in the tournament's history.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion surpasses Japan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she played in 2015. Williams last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has not played outside the United States since 2023.
The two-time runner-up at the Australian Open, most recently in 2017 to her sister Serena, will also compete in the Hobart International warm-up event starting on 12 January. She expressed her excitement to return to Australia, noting the many cherished memories she has there.
Williams underwent surgery for uterine fibroids in August 2024 after years of health issues. She returned to the court last summer in Washington, DC, where she became the oldest woman to win a tour-level match since Martina Navratilova in 2004.
She lost in the first round of the US Open in 2024 but pushed 11th seed Karolina Muchova to three sets. She has not competed on tour since and recently married last month.
Williams has won Wimbledon five times and the US Open twice, and has also claimed the women's doubles title in Melbourne four times and the mixed doubles once.
