In Melbourne, a milestone was reached Sunday as Venus Williams, aged 45 and ranked 576th globally, entered the Australian Open singles main draw, making her the oldest female competitor in this category at the tournament. This achievement eclipsed the previous record held by Japan's Kimiko Date, who last played the Australian Open singles main draw at age 44 in 2015.
Williams participated in the competition through a wild-card invitation. She has amassed seven major singles titles in her career, a testament to her outstanding legacy in tennis. The match, lasting over two hours, was contested against No. 68-ranked Olga Danilovic. Williams secured the first set in a tiebreak 7-6 (7-5) and won the second set 6-3. In the final set, Williams started strongly, racing to a 4-0 lead, demonstrating glimpses of her classic game with powerful winners and solid serving.
Nevertheless, Danilovic displayed resilience by winning six consecutive games, breaking Williams’ serve during the penultimate game of the match. The final score was 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 in favor of Danilovic, concluding the match in 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Williams reflected on the experience with positivity, noting the progression of her game and expressing pride in reaching these competitive stages despite the long hiatus from the professional circuit. "It was an amazing journey on the court today," she stated, highlighting her focus on refining her skills and minimizing errors as part of her ongoing return to competitive tennis.
Williams first appeared at Melbourne Park in 1998 at age 17, impressively reaching the quarterfinals in her debut. Over the years, she has competed 22 times at the Australian Open. Notably, she faced defeat in the tournament's final rounds twice, both times against her sister Serena Williams, in 2003 and 2017.
Accompanied by her husband Andrea Preti, whom she married in December, Williams arrived in Melbourne with ambitions beyond breaking the age record. She expressed a desire to win her opening match and potentially face rising star Coco Gauff in the second round.
During the match, after building a substantial advantage, Williams seemed poised to claim victory. However, Danilovic’s strategic left-handed forehand returns shifted momentum, forcing Williams under pressure in the later stages of the match. The penultimate game showcased an intense 14-minute, 28-second service battle with Williams saving multiple break points and generating game points of her own before ultimately conceding the game.
Williams acknowledged the quality of play in this segment, crediting the crowd’s energy and also noting elements of fortune that can influence outcomes in professional sports. Danilovic, appreciating the significance of facing a tennis icon, described the opportunity as a pleasure and motivated herself at critical moments during the comeback.
Williams entered the tournament amid a challenging phase, carrying a five-match losing streak since a victory in Washington last year and an early exit from the U.S. Open in her recent comeback attempts. Despite this, she remained optimistic, emphasizing that she is relearning her approach to competition and gradually regaining competitive form.
Looking ahead, Williams plans to continue competing in the doubles events at Melbourne Park and intends to evaluate her calendar for the remainder of the year following this tournament. She stated her focus is firmly on the doubles competition at present.