When Venus Williams walks out at Melbourne Park later this month, it will not just mark a return to the Australian Open, it will be another chapter in a career that has consistently challenged tennis’ conventional timelines.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion has received a wild-card entry for the 2026 Australian Open, beginning January 18, ending a five-year absence from the season’s opening major. Williams last competed in Melbourne in 2021, and this will be her 22nd appearance in the main draw.
At 45, Williams is set to become the oldest woman ever to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 during her final appearance in 2015. It is a statistic that underlines not nostalgia, but durability at the elite level.
Melbourne has historically been a productive venue for Williams. She owns a 54–21 win-loss record at Melbourne Park and reached the final twice, in 2003 and 2017, finishing runner-up on both occasions to her sister Serena Williams. Even in defeat, those campaigns reflected her ability to remain competitive across eras.
Williams’ return is not without recent match practice. In 2025, she made selective appearances on tour, including singles outings in North America and a notable doubles run at the US Open, where she reached the quarterfinals. The results may not mirror her peak years, but the intent to compete clearly remains intact.
This Australian Open comeback is unlikely to be framed around titles or expectations. Instead, it stands as a reminder that longevity at the highest level is earned through relentless discipline, adaptation, and belief – qualities that have defined Venus Williams’ career for over two decades.
For Melbourne, her presence adds history. For the sport, it reinforces that greatness does not always conform to age or timelines.
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