Legendary Venus Williams to compete in the 2026 Australian Open at age 45

Williams has no plans to retire and will immediately participate in early 2026 tournaments following her wedding ceremony.

Just one week after the wedding, the American tennis legend Venus Williams received great news when the organizers granted her a wildcard entry to the 2026 Australian Open. This will mark the 45-year-old’s first return to Melbourne since 2021 and her 22nd appearance at the year’s first Grand Slam.

Venus Williams had an impressive spell competing in Australia with a record of 54 wins and 21 losses. She reached the finals twice, in 2003 and 2017, but was defeated both times by her younger sister Serena Williams. Notably, the 2017 final was memorable as Serena won 6-4, securing her 23rd Grand Slam title and the last major trophy of her illustrious career.

Following that defeat, Venus was unable to maintain her peak form, clearly reflecting the physical challenges that come with aging.

Recently, "Queen V" has significantly reduced her tournament schedule and rarely achieved consecutive wins. In 2024, she participated only in events like Indian Wells and Miami before taking another break. In 2025, the former world No. 1 returned at Washington and secured her first singles victory after a two-year wait.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion plans to start the season at the Hobart International before heading to Melbourne Park. Her most recent match was a three-set loss to Karolina Muchova at the US Open last September.

Although no longer at her peak, Venus Williams remains a special figure in women's tennis. With her extensive experience and proven competitive spirit over the years, "Queen V" can still cause an upset against the right opponent.