Venus Williams receives Australian Open wildcard entry at age 45

Venus Williams to Compete in Australian Open for First Time Since 2021

Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard entry into the Australian Open, set to take place at Melbourne Park. The American tennis player will become the oldest woman to participate in the tournament, aged 45.

Williams’ participation marks her first appearance in the main draw since 2021. She had previously competed only a limited number of singles matches in recent years and has been on a break from professional tennis for 16 months.

“I’m excited to be back in Australia and look forward to competing during the Australian summer,” Williams stated. “I’ve had many memorable experiences there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has played an important role in my career.”

Williams is a five-time Wimbledon champion and two-time US Open winner. She was also an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017. Her participation will surpass that of Japan’s Kimiko Date, who competed at the age of 44 in 2015.

Williams’ preparations for the tournament are set to begin next week at the Auckland Classic, followed by a stop at the Hobart International before Melbourne. Fellow American tennis player Coco Gauff expressed admiration for Williams’ longevity and dedication to the sport, stating that it’s “incredible” she is still competing.

Source: Al Jazeera