Venus Williams Returns to Australian Open at 45

Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams was handed a wildcard to the Australian Open aged 45 on Friday, becoming the oldest woman ever to play at the season-opening Grand Slam.

The American will compete in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021.

“I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” said Williams.

An Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017, Williams is a five-time Wimbledon champion and has also won two US Opens.

She will become the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open since Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015.

Williams, a four-time Australian Open doubles champion, is set to begin her preparations for the tournament at the Auckland Classic next week, having returned to the circuit at the US Open last year after a six-month break.

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