The celebrations for the second wedding with Andrea Preti in Palm Beach, which arrived after the Ischia wedding last September, have been archived, and twenty-two years after her first final in Melbourne, Venus Williams returns to the Australian Open and sets a record destined to go down in tennis history.
The wild card and the historical record
The American received a wild card at age 45, becoming the oldest woman ever to compete in the season-opening Grand Slam tournament. Venus will be in the Melbourne main draw for the first time since 2021.
«I’m excited to be back in Australia and can’t wait to play the tournament during the Australian summer“said Williams. «I have so many wonderful memories there and am grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that meant so much to me».
A legendary career
In her extraordinary palmarès, Venus Williams boasts five Wimbledon titles and two US Opens. In Melbourne she reached the final on two occasions, in 2003 and 2017, confirming herself for years as one of the absolute protagonists of the circuit.
With this participation, the eldest of the Williams sisters – with Serena having retired for three years now – surpasses the previous record of the Japanese Kimiko Date, who in 2015 took part in the tournament at the age of 44.
Preparation for the Slam
To best arrive at the Slam which will start on January 18th, Venus will play the Auckland tournament in New Zealand, from January 5th to 11th, and will subsequently also take part in the Hobart tournament, where she will meet other Slam champions such as Barbora Krejcikova and Emma Raducanu.
After returning to the circuit at last year’s US Open, following a 16-month break and surgery to remove uterine fibroids, Venus currently occupies 145th position in the world rankings.
Praise from the tennis world
«Venus is a true legend and a pioneer of our sport, an inspiration to all», underlined the director of the Australian tournament Craig Tiley. «I’m delighted to see her back on court at both the Hobart International and the Australian Open».
Compatriot Coco Gauff, two-time Slam champion, also applauded her return: «It’s amazing to see Venus Williams still playing tournaments. He is a legend of the sport and the longevity of his career is extraordinary».
In Melbourne, once again, Venus Williams will not just be a participant, but the symbol of a career capable of defying time.