Venus Williams is poised to carve her name into the history books once again, this time as the oldest player ever to compete in the Australian Open women's singles draw. The American legend, now 45, will take to the court this Sunday for her first-round match, marking an extraordinary milestone in a career that began at Melbourne Park back in 1998.
A Record Realised After the Fact
Remarkably, Williams herself was unaware she was about to set this new age record until after she had accepted a wild-card entry for the tournament. This marks her first appearance at the year's opening Grand Slam in five years. "I hadn’t thought about it until it came out in the press," she confessed during her pre-tournament news conference on Saturday. "So yay. Yay for me! Let’s do this."
The moment was sealed with a personal touch as she left the auditorium hand-in-hand with her new husband, Andrea Preti, whom she married in December. Williams noted that the player area had changed significantly since her last visit in 2021, which was her 21st appearance at the Australian Open.
From Teenage Debut to Historic Return
Williams first played the Australian Open as a 17-year-old in 1998, swiftly reaching the quarterfinals. Reflecting on that time, she said, "It was a beautiful time, because there’s so much I didn’t know... There’s a great thing of not knowing because it lets you have a clean slate." Now, with seven Grand Slam singles titles to her name, her perspective has evolved. "That’s the thing about sport — you keep stepping up to the line, and while there is nothing to prove, it’s all about the attitude and the effort," she added.
Her current comeback trail began last July, with her Grand Slam return ending in a first-round loss at the US Open in August. She has also suffered first-round defeats in warm-up events in New Zealand and Hobart to start the 2026 season, leaving her ranked at 576.
The Challenge Ahead on Court
Williams faces a tough opening match against 24-year-old Serbian left-hander Olga Danilovic, who is ranked 68th in the world. Danilovic is playing her 11th major and equalled her best Grand Slam result by reaching the fourth round in Melbourne last year. The match is scheduled as the last contest on Sunday on John Cain Arena.
A victory would set up a potential second-round blockbuster against third-seeded American star Coco Gauff. Williams remains philosophical about her form, stating, "At this point, I need to be kind to myself, because I’m getting so many things right, but, you know, there has been a lack of playing matches. I’m playing the tennis I need to play."
Regardless of the result, her mere presence at the tournament is a testament to her enduring passion and athleticism, inspiring a new generation at the very venue where her own Grand Slam journey began nearly three decades ago.
