Venus Williams Sets Age Record at Australian Open 2026
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — At 45, Venus Williams is poised to make history at the Australian Open, becoming the oldest player ever to compete in the women’s singles draw. The milestone wasn’t even on her radar until after she received a wild-card entry for the year’s first major, marking her return to Melbourne Park after a five-year absence.
“I hadn’t thought about it until it came out in the press,” Williams shared with a smile during her pre-tournament press conference. “So yay. Yay for me! Let’s do this.” She was accompanied by her husband, Andrea Preti, as they walked through the player area, a space that felt different from her previous visits.
A Personal Journey Alongside a Professional Comeback
Williams’s return to the court is interwoven with a significant personal event: her marriage in December. She prioritized the celebration between the US Open and the start of her comeback tour last July. Reflecting on her first Australian Open experience in 1998, when she was just 17, Williams spoke of the freedom that came with inexperience.
“It was a beautiful time, because there’s so much I didn’t know,” she recalled. “But there’s a great thing of not knowing because it lets you have a clean slate. There was so much I needed to learn, and then I learned it. That’s the thing about sport — you keep stepping up to the line, and while there is nothing to prove, it’s all about the attitude and the effort. No one can control that. Controlling that part is really the win.”
Facing the Challenge Ahead
While her Grand Slam comeback match at the US Open last August ended in defeat, Williams remains focused. She will face Olga Danilovic, a 24-year-old left-hander from Serbia, in the opening round on John Cain Arena. Danilovic, ranked No. 68, is aiming to replicate her fourth-round performance from last year’s Australian Open.
Williams, a seven-time major champion, currently holds a ranking of 576 due to limited tournament play. She experienced first-round losses in warmup tournaments in New Zealand and Hobart earlier this year. A victory on Sunday could set up a second-round clash with third-seeded Coco Gauff.
“At this point, I need to be kind to myself, because I’m getting so many things right, but, you know, there has been a lack of playing matches,” Williams acknowledged. “So I’m playing well. I’m setting myself up each point to win points and controlling the points. That’s exactly how I’d want to play, and I’m playing the tennis I need to play.”
Elsa Jacquemot: Rising Star to Watch
While the spotlight is currently on Venus Williams’ remarkable return, keep an eye on rising stars like Elsa Jacquemot. Though not directly featured in this report, Jacquemot represents the next generation of tennis talent competing at the Australian Open, adding another layer of excitement to the tournament.
Source: AP News
