Venus Williams returns to Australian Open 28 years after debut

Tennis legend Venus Williams is set to return to the Australian Open, 28 years after her first appearance at Melbourne Park, and five years after her last. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion has been granted a wild-card entry for the tournament, which begins on Jan. 18.

Williams, now 45, first played at the Australian Open in 1998, famously defeating her younger sister Serena in the second round before falling to Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals. Over the years, she has been a runner-up twice in Melbourne, losing to Serena in the 2003 and 2017 finals, and has compiled an impressive 54-21 win-loss record at the venue. This year will mark her 22nd appearance in the main draw.

In November, Williams announced plans to compete in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild-card entry. The Australian Open confirmed she is scheduled to play in Hobart, Australia, just a week before the start of the main tournament, giving her a full lead-up to Melbourne Park.

“I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” Williams said. “I’ve had so many incredible memories there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”

With this return, Williams will become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she last played in 2015. Her participation adds to the tournament’s growing excitement as fans eagerly anticipate seeing the veteran champion back in action.

Off the court, Williams recently celebrated a personal milestone, marrying Danish-born model and actor Andrea Preti in Palm Beach, Florida, in late December.

The Australian Open is set to witness another memorable chapter in the extraordinary career of one of tennis’s most iconic figures.