MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — At 45 years old, Venus Williams is set to establish an age record at the Australian Open, marking her as the oldest player ever to compete in the women’s singles draw. This milestone comes as Williams prepares for her first match at the tournament in five years.
During a pre-tournament news conference on Saturday, Williams expressed her surprise at the news, stating, “I hadn’t thought about it until it came out in the press. So yay. Yay for me! Let’s do this.” She then exited the auditorium hand-in-hand with her husband, Andrea Preti, reflecting on how different the player area felt compared to her last appearance in 2021, which was her 21st time competing at Melbourne Park.
In December, Williams married Preti, a commitment she regarded as a priority leading up to major tournaments. She first competed in the Australian Open back in 1998 when she was just 17 years old. At that time, she reached the quarterfinals in her fourth Grand Slam event, bolstered by a strong performance at the U.S. Open earlier that year.
Reflecting on her debut in Melbourne, she said, “It was a beautiful time because there’s so much I didn’t know. 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.” Williams emphasized the importance of attitude and effort in sports, noting that maintaining control over these aspects is critical to achieving success.
Williams faced challenges in her past competitions, including a loss in her Grand Slam comeback match at the U.S. Open in August. She is set to play against Olga Danilovic, a 24-year-old left-handed player from Serbia, in her opening match on the John Cain Arena. Danilovic, currently ranked No. 68, is entering her 11th Grand Slam and has experienced her best performance in Australia, reaching the fourth round last year.
Despite her current ranking of 576, a result of limited participation on tour, Williams remains optimistic. She started the 2026 year with first-round losses in warmup tournaments in New Zealand and Hobart. Should she manage to win her opening match against Danilovic, there’s a possibility she could face third-seeded Coco Gauff in the following round.
Williams commented on her current state, saying, “At this point, I need to be kind to myself, because I’m getting so many things right, but there has been a lack of playing matches.” She is focused on playing well, aiming to control the points during her matches. “That’s exactly how I’d want to play, and I’m playing the tennis I need to play,” she added.
With her extensive experience and determination, Williams is looking forward to her participation in the Australian Open, highlighting her enduring passion for the sport and the challenges that come with it.
