Venus Williams has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 18 in Melbourne. Tournament organizers announced the decision in a social media post on Friday, confirming the 45-year-old’s return to Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, will be making her 22nd main-draw appearance in Australia. She owns a 54-21 career record at Melbourne Park and has twice reached the women’s singles final there, falling to her sister Serena Williams in 2003 and again in 2017.
Milestones dating back to her 1998 debut
The wild card also marks a return nearly three decades after Williams’ first appearance at the event. In 1998, she beat Serena Williams in the second round before her run ended in the quarterfinals against fellow American Lindsay Davenport.
Auckland tune-up and recent personal news
Williams said in November that she plans to play a WTA tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild card, as a lead-in to the Australian Open.
Off the court, Williams married Danish-born model and actor Andrea Preti in late December in Palm Beach, Florida.
Sources:
Reuters / Venus Williams, 45, receives a wildcard entry for the Australian Open
Tennis Majors / Venus Williams awarded a wild card for the 2026 Australian Open at age 45
