MELBOURNE, Australia — Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning Jan. 18 in Melbourne.
The tournament said Friday that the 45-year-old Williams would make a return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister, Serena, in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.
Venus Williams had announced in November that she would play in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild card, two weeks before the Australian Open. The Australian Open said Williams was also entered to play a tournament in Hobart, Australia, a week later and just before play begins at Melbourne Park.
She last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has finished runner-up in singles twice, losing to Serena in the final in 2003 and 2017.
“I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” Williams said. “I’ve had so many incredible memories there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”
Williams’ record at Melbourne Park is 54-21. This year will be the 22nd time she has appeared in the main draw.
The tournament said Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015.
In late December, Williams married Danish-born model and actor Andrea Preti in Palm Beach, Fla.