Twenty-eight years after her first participation in the Australian Open, Venus Williams will still be present on the courts of Melbourne for the 2026 edition. The 45-year-old American tennis player received, Friday January 2, an invitation to the first Grand Slam tournament of the year which will take place January 18 to 1is FEBRUARY.
On this occasion, she will become the oldest woman to participate in the Australian Open, dethroning the Japanese Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015.
Venus Williams’ last appearance in Melbourne was in 2021, and she twice finished as a finalist in the women’s singles, losing to a certain Serena Williams in the final in 2003 and 2017. During her first epic in the Australian tournament in 1998, she beat her younger sister in the second round before losing in the quarter-finals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.
The player, who currently occupies 581e rank in the WTA rankings, will appear in the main draw in Melbourne for the 22e time in his career, and the first since 2021.
Four times doubles title in Melbourne
“I am delighted to be back in Australia and look forward to playing the tournament during the Australian summer”said Venus Williams. “I have so many incredible memories there and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that meant so much to my career.” »
Venus Williams’ singles record at Melbourne Park is 54 wins and 21 losses, but she has never won there. The eldest Williams sister has won the Wimbledon tournament five times and the US Open twice.
As preparation, the four-time Australian Open doubles champion will play the Auckland tournament in New Zealand, organized from January 5 to 11. Absent from the circuit for almost a year and a half, she made her return to the courts in July at the Washington tournament, and played in the US Open in August where she lost in the first round to the Czech Karolina Muchova in three sets.
