AP, Melbourne: Veteran tennis player and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams will participate in the Australian Open this year for the first time in five years and will thus become the oldest player to participate in this tournament. They have been given a wild card entry to play in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, starting on 18 January.
Tournament organizers announced on Friday that 45-year-old Venus is set to return to the Melbourne park where she first competed 28 years ago. She defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round in 1998, but lost to compatriot American player Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals.
Venus had announced
Venus announced in November that she would play in Auckland, New Zealand, two weeks before the Australian Open, where she received a wild card. According to the organizers of the Australian Open, Venus has also registered to participate in another tournament to be held in Hobart. Venus last participated in the Australian Open in 2021. She has been runner-up in women’s singles here twice. She lost to Serena in the finals in 2003 and 2017.
venus statement
Venus said that I am very eager to play in Australia. I have many incredible memories there. I am very happy that I am returning again to a place which has been very important in my career. By participating in the Australian Open this year, Venus will become the oldest player to play in this tournament. She will break the record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2015.
