Tag: Venus Williams

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams said Saturday she was “up for the challenge” as she gets set to become the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open at age 45.

The United States great is back at Melbourne Park for the first time in five years and said she was grateful to have the chance to prove she still has what it takes.

The former world number one, now ranked 576, faces 68th-ranked Olga Danilovic of Serbia in the first round on Sunday after being handed a wildcard.

Williams has played only sporadically in recent years and lost in the first round of both of her warm-up tournaments.

“I’m super, super grateful for the opportunity from Tennis Australia. Grateful for the opportunity to play in front of the fans,” she said.

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“I have just received so much support in the tournaments leading up, walking around the city and everything. My hope is to play my best.”

A five-time Wimbledon champion, Williams was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017 and won the doubles title four times alongside sister Serena.

“This is the greatest place on Earth to play,” she said.

“I have had amazing memories here. I love challenges, so I’m up for the challenge.”

Asked by reporters what it meant to trump Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015, Williams said: “I hadn’t thought about it till it came out in the press, so yay, yay for me.

“Let’s do this.”

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Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams was handed a wildcard to the Australian Open aged 45 on Friday, becoming the oldest woman ever to play at the season-opening Grand Slam.

The American, who has played only a limited number of singles matches in recent years, will compete in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021.

“I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” said Williams.

“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.”

Venus Williams is a five-time Wimbledon champion and has also won two US Opens.

She was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017.

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She will become the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open since Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015.

Williams, a four-time Australian Open doubles champion, is set to begin her preparations for the January 18-Feb 1 tournament at the Auckland Classic next week, having returned to the circuit at the US Open last year after a 16-month break.

She will then head to the Hobart International immediately before Melbourne.

Two-time Grand Slam champion and fellow American Coco Gauff said it was “incredible” to see Williams still turning up for tournaments.

“She’s a legend of the sport, so it will be cool to see her back in action,” she said.

“It’s incredible the longevity of her career. She’s one of the people I looked up to, so looking forward to seeing her back on court.”

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