Venus Williams Given Australian Open Wildcard

LONDON, Jan 2 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Venus Williams is set to play in the Australian Open for the first time in five years after being given a wildcard for the singles in Melbourne, reported PA Media/dpa.

The 45-year-old, who reached the Australian Open final in 2003 and 2017, had already accepted a wildcard for a warm-up event in Auckland.

The seven-time Grand Slam winner returned to action for the first time in 16 months in Washington in July, going on to play Cincinnati and the United States (US) Open, where she reached the quarter-finals of the women's doubles with Leylah Fernandez.

She has not played a tournament outside North America since appearing on the grass at Birmingham in 2023, while her last outing at the Australian Open was back in 2021.

"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 is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record previously held by Japan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015.

--BERNAMA-PA Media/dpa