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Venus Williams isn’t ready to call time on her storied tennis career just yet.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles winner has earned a wild card into this year’s Australian Open. The first major tournament of the season begins on January 18.
In a social media post on Friday, tournament organizers confirmed that Williams, 45, would return to Melbourne Park after a five-year absence. Williams made her debut at the Australian Open 28 years ago.
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Venus Williams celebrates after winning a match point during her first round of the women’s singles match against Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens on day one of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 8, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Venus outlasted her younger sister and compatriot Serena Williams at the 1998 Australian Open, but was ultimately defeated in the quarterfinals by Lindsay Davenport.
Williams also received a wild card into a WTA tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, in November.
VENUS WILLIAMS WINS US AN OPEN WILD-CARD INVITATION AS OLDEST SINGLE ENTRANT IN OVER 40 YEARS
Williams, 45, last competed in Melbourne in 2021. She finished second in the women’s singles twice, losing to Serena Williams in the final in 2003 and 2017.
Venus Williams enters the court before her match against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic during their women’s first round match at the 2025 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 25, 2025, in New York, New York. (Elsa/Getty Images)
“I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing in the Australian summer,” Williams said. “I had 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’ record at Melbourne Park stands at 54 wins and 21 losses. This year will be the 22nd time she has appeared in the main draw.
Venus Williams during a practice session during day five of the Rothesay Classic Birmingham at Edgbaston Priory Club on June 21, 2023, in Birmingham, England. (Stephen Pond/Getty Images for LTA)
Australian Open officials said Williams would become the oldest woman to appear in the tournament’s main draw, surpassing the record previously held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2015.
