Venus Williams Makes History as Oldest Competitor at Australian Open

Venus Williams is set to make history as the oldest player to compete in the Australian Open at 45 years old. This marks her return to the tournament after five years, following a wild-card entry. Reflecting on her journey, Williams emphasizes the importance of attitude and effort in sports. She faces Olga Danilovic in her first match, with the potential to meet Coco Gauff in the next round. Discover more about her remarkable comeback and insights as she prepares for this significant milestone.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 17, 2026, 11:21 IST

Venus Williams Sets Age Record at Australian Open

At the age of 45, Venus Williams is poised to make history at the Australian Open, where she will compete in the first round on Sunday, marking her as the oldest player ever to participate in the women's singles event.

Williams was unaware of this milestone until she received a wild-card entry, allowing her to return to the tournament for the first time in five years. "I hadn’t thought about it until it came out in the press," she remarked during her pre-tournament press conference on Saturday. "So yay. Yay for me! Let’s do this."

After the conference, she was seen walking hand-in-hand with her husband, Andrea Preti, back towards the player area, which has changed significantly since her last appearance in 2021, her 21st time at Melbourne Park.

Having tied the knot in December, Williams indicated that her marriage was a priority during her comeback to the tour, which began last July.

She first graced the Australian Open stage in 1998 at just 17 years old, reaching the quarterfinals in her fourth Grand Slam appearance after a strong showing at the US Open.

"It was a beautiful time, because there’s so much I didn’t know," she reflected on her initial experience. "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."

Williams faced a setback in her Grand Slam comeback match at the US Open last August. She is set to compete against Olga Danilovic, a 24-year-old left-handed player from Serbia, in the final match on Sunday at John Cain Arena.

Danilovic, currently ranked No. 68, is participating in her 11th Grand Slam tournament and her third in Australia, where she reached the fourth round last year, matching her best performance at a major.

Despite being a seven-time Grand Slam champion, Williams is currently ranked 576 due to her limited participation in the tour. She faced early exits in her warm-up tournaments in New Zealand and Hobart at the start of 2026.

If she secures a victory on Sunday, she may face third-seeded Coco Gauff in the second round.

"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," she stated. "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."