🔗 Share this article

A seven-time Grand Slam title holder Venus Williams has secured a special invitation for the Australian Open, which kicks off on the 18th of January in Melbourne.

A Landmark Comeback to Melbourne Park

The event organizers confirmed on the weekend that the 45-year-old legend will grace the courts again at Melbourne Park a staggering 28 years after her debut. Back in 1998, she overcame her younger sister Serena in the early stage before bowing out in the quarter-finals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.

Gearing Up for the Summer Swing

The tennis star had previously revealed in November her intention to compete in Auckland, New Zealand, where she was likewise awarded a wild card, two weeks before the Melbourne event. The Australian Open noted that Williams is also entered to play a tournament in Australia's Hobart International a week later, immediately prior to the action begins at the main venue.

Her last appearance in the city was in 2021, and she has finished runner-up in the women’s singles on two separate instances, falling short against Serena in the championship matches of 2003 and 2017.

"I am thrilled to be back in the country and eagerly anticipating playing during the Australian summer," Williams said. "I have experienced so many incredible moments there, and I’m thankful for the chance to return to a venue that has been so significant to my career."

By the Numbers

Williams' overall record at the Australian Open stands at an notable 54 wins and 21 defeats. This year will represent the twenty-second occasion she has appeared in the main draw.

Setting a Fresh Benchmark

The tournament pointed out that Williams is set to become the oldest woman to take part in an Open's singles competition, surpassing the mark previously held by Japanese Kimiko Date, who was forty-four when she lost in the first round at the venue in 2015.

Recent Life Event

In the final days of December, Williams wed Danish-born actor and model Andrea Preti in Palm Beach, Florida.