Venus Williams is set to return to the Australian Open after tournament organizers confirmed she has been awarded a wildcard entry, marking her first appearance at Melbourne Park in five years.
The seven time Grand Slam champion last competed at the Australian Open in 2021, when she was eliminated in the second round by Italy’s Sara Errani. Her comeback at the season’s first major will also see her make history as the oldest woman ever to appear in the Australian Open main draw.
“I am excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the summer,” Williams said in a statement released by the tournament. She added that Melbourne holds special meaning for her, noting that she has “so many incredible memories” from playing there.
At 45, Williams will surpass Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she played her final Australian Open match in 2015. The American has competed at the tournament 21 times but has never won the title, finishing runner up on two occasions. She lost the 2003 and 2017 finals to her sister Serena Williams, according to records from the Australian Open and the WTA.
Despite that, Melbourne has remained a significant stop in her career, featuring prominently during her most successful years on tour. Her return is expected to draw major attention from fans and broadcasters alike, tournament officials said.
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Williams has also accepted a wildcard into the Hobart International, a WTA warm up event that begins on January 12. The tournament will give her competitive match play ahead of the Australian Open and features a strong field that includes former major winners Barbora Krejcikova and Emma Raducanu.
According to organizers, Williams’ presence is expected to boost interest in both events, particularly as she continues her gradual return to competitive tennis after limited appearances in recent seasons.
Attention will now focus on how Williams performs against a new generation of players and whether her experience can translate into another memorable run on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
