Venus Williams to break record as oldest woman in Australian Open main draw after receiving wildcard - 'Grateful for the opportunity'

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Venus Williams is set to make history at the 2026 Australian Open when she becomes the oldest woman to compete at the tournament. The 45-year-old will break the record held by Japan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she participated in the competition in 2015. The seven-time singles Grand Slam champion has been handed a wildcard and will hope to win her first match at a major since Wimbledon in 2021.

Venus Williams becomes the oldest player to win a WTA tour-level singles match since 2004

Video credit: SNTV

Venus Williams will become the oldest woman to compete in the Australian Open main draw after the seven-time singles Grand Slam champion was handed a wildcard for the 2026 tournament.

The 45-year-old is set to break the record held by three-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Kimiko Date, who participated in the 2015 edition at the age of 44.

Having returned to Grand Slam action at the 2025 US Open following nearly two years without an appearance, Williams will grace the big stage once more, and you can catch all the action from Melbourne Park live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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"I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career," she 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."

The right-hander has reached the final of the Australian Open on two separate occasions - in 2003 and 2017 - and reached the quarter-finals on debut in 1998, losing to Lindsay Davenport over three sets.

In both her final appearances down under, she was defeated by her younger sister Serena, who last competed at the tournament in 2021, when she was seen off by eventual winner Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals.

The California-born star is expected to join Emma Raducanu at the Hobart International the week before the Australian Open, after she was also handed a wildcard for the warm-up tournament.

Her appearance at the first major of the year - which runs from January 18 until February 1 - will be her first for five years, having most recently seen action at the 2021 edition, where she beat Kirsten Flipkens to advance to the second round before losing to Sara Errani.

But Williams has not won a main draw match at a Grand Slam since her showing at Wimbledon in 2021, a competition she has claimed five times.

Since then, she has been beaten in the first round on four occasions - at Wimbledon in 2023 and at the US Open in 2022, 2023 and 2025.

Alison Van Uytvanck, Elina Svitolina, Greet Minnen and Karolina Muchova were her opponents in those defeats, while Williams has not advanced to the latter stages of a major since progressing to the last four of the 2017 US Open.

Watch and stream top tennis action, including the 2026 Australian Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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