Venus Williams’ return to the Australian Open on Sunday was less about the result and more about resilience, legacy, and longevity. At 45, the seven-time Grand Slam champion became the oldest woman to compete in a singles main draw at Melbourne Park, marking a historic milestone despite a first-round loss to Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.
Playing on a wildcard and ranked No. 576, Williams pushed the world No. 68 to the limit before falling 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 in a contest that lasted 2 hours and 17 minutes. The American appeared poised for a statement win when she surged to a 4-0 lead in the deciding set, only for Danilovic to storm back with six consecutive games to seal the victory.
By stepping onto court, Williams surpassed the previous age record set by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who competed at the Australian Open at age 44 in 2015. It was a landmark moment in a career that began in Melbourne in 1998, when a 17-year-old Williams reached the quarterfinals on her debut.
“It was an amazing journey on the court today,” Williams said after the match, waving to the crowd as she exited the stadium. “I’m really proud of my effort. I’m playing better with each match and getting closer to where I want to be.”
After splitting the opening two sets, Williams found vintage form early in the third, conceding just five points across four games as she unleashed powerful groundstrokes and served with authority. Danilovic, however, weathered the storm, using her left-handed forehand to apply pressure and shift momentum back in her favor.
The turning point came in a marathon service game at 4-4 in the final set. Williams battled for over 14 minutes, saving breakpoints and producing clutch aces, before eventually being broken. Danilovic then served out the match, clinching victory when Williams’ forehand narrowly missed the line on match point.
“It was such a pleasure playing against such a legend,” Danilovic said. “At 4-0, I just told myself to play freely and enjoy the moment.” This marked Williams’ 22nd appearance at the Australian Open, a tournament where she reached two finals- both losses to her sister Serena in 2003 and 2017. Off the court, the trip carried personal significance as well, with Williams traveling alongside her husband, Andrea Preti, following their marriage in December.
Although Williams arrived in Melbourne on a five-match singles losing streak since her return to the tour, the performance offered encouragement as she continued her comeback in 2026. “In a lot of ways, I’m relearning how to do things again,” she admitted. “But it’s exciting to feel myself getting there.”
Williams will remain at Melbourne Park to compete in the doubles draw before deciding on her schedule for the rest of the season. “Right now, I’m still very much in the tournament,” she said. “My focus is on doubles – that’s where my head is.”
