Source: CNN Sports News – https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/02/sport/tennis-venus-williams-australian-open-wildcard
Venus Williams received a wild card for the Australian Open. The tournament starts on January 18 in Melbourne. Organizers confirmed her entry on Friday. Williams is 45 years old.
This appearance marks her return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first entry there. She first played at the Australian Open in 1998. During that tournament, she defeated Serena Williams in the second round but later lost to Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals.
Williams last competed in the Australian Open in 2021. She reached the women’s singles final twice. She lost to Serena Williams in the finals in 2003 and again in 2017. Her career record at Melbourne Park is 54 wins and 21 losses. The 2026 tournament will be her 22nd appearance in the main draw.
Williams plans to play in additional tournaments before the Australian Open. After receiving a wild card, she will compete in Auckland, New Zealand. She is also entered in a Hobart tournament the week before play begins in Melbourne.
Tournament officials noted that Williams will become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw. She will break the previous record held by Kimiko Date, who played at age 44 in 2015.
In late December, Williams married Andrea Preti. The ceremony took place in Palm Beach, Florida.
