By Richard Pagliaro Sunday, January 18, 2026
Photo credit: Elsa/Getty
The crocodile on her mask is swimming in sweat Venus Williams Caressing her path to history.
Williams, 45, built a 4-0 lead in the third set but was unable to find the finishing touch tonight at Melbourne Park.
Olga Danilovich Williams’ dream came true, and she won the Australian Open in six consecutive games with a score of 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.
28 years after his first appearance at the Australian Open, wild card Williams continues to break barriers as he competes in the Australian Open for a record-breaking 22nd time.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion made history as the oldest player to compete in an AO main draw, but the defeat is sure to sting as Williams gears up for her first singles win since July.
“Yeah, it was a great game, a great moment,” Williams said. “The energy of the crowd is
Amazing. This cheers me up.
“She had a great game. There was some luck, too. That’s the sport. That’s how it goes sometimes. But it was an amazing moment.”
Danilovic, who reached the AO 16 last year, said she tried to enjoy the moment and just focus on the ball.
“It wasn’t easy. When we got there, I told myself before the game that I really wanted to seize this moment, but I can’t say enjoy it because it’s hard to enjoy that moment on the field,” Danilovic told Rene Stubbs after the game. “But you know, these things don’t happen every day. Playing against Venus Williams is something I can’t take for granted.
“But everyone was nervous. At 4-0 I just said to myself ‘OK, keep playing.'” Just play it point by point. Yes, I’m happy to get this title, but it’s such a pleasure to fight against such a legend. “
That was thanks to Danilovic, a southpaw who is 21 years younger than Williams, who went on the attack and neutralized the four-time Olympic gold medalist in the crucial longest match.
The decider ended in a stalemate, with both sides playing for 15 minutes, which ultimately decided the outcome of the game.
Former world number one Williams held six game points and saved a break point with an ace as unbearable tensions escalated.
All that good play was undone when Williams’ forehand and backhand misses resulted in a break and a 5-4 lead over Danilovic, prompting a collective groan from many in the audience.
Williams said she was more encouraged by her lead in the third set than frustrated that it all slipped away.
“I felt good going into 4-Love. It was also the biggest lead I’ve had since coming back. In a lot of ways, I had to relearn how to do things, if that makes sense,” Williams said. “I’m really proud of my effort today because I’m playing better every game and getting to where I want to be
arrive. Now I just have to keep moving forward and try to control my mistakes.
“Those are also things that come with playing extra games, like getting your feet in the right position, you know, picking the right shot, all those things that I’m still learning. It’s a little weird, but I’m super excited to play so well and put myself in that position and be so close.”
Trailing 4-0, Danilovic decided to go back to basics and focus on her footwork, which helped spark her comeback.
“I was trying to look at this yellow ball and move my hands, move my legs,” Danilovich said. “It was an amazing atmosphere. Obviously, more people were supporting her. But I saw a lot of Serbian flags, a lot of Serbian people, I heard Serbian. That’s why I love Australia… They really helped me a lot. It was electric.”
The southpaw Danilovic partnered with compatriot Novak Djokovic in the 2025 US Open mixed doubles but fell behind 15-30 in the ensuing match. Danilovic stood up again and hit a forehand winner and a backhand to take match point.
Williams tried to change direction on the baseline, but her forehand hit the tape and fell out of bounds as Danilovich palmed her heart, sealing a victory that lasted 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Danilovic will face third seed Coco Gauff or Kamila Rashimova in the second round.
Fans inside John Cain Arena gave Williams a standing ovation as she left the court with a smile and a wave.
Skeptics who questioned why the tournament awarded the two-time AO finalist a wild card saw that Williams could still call on high-level players tonight. Ultimately, the world No. 576, who defeated Karolina Muchova in three sets at the U.S. Open last summer, has suffered a six-game losing streak in singles since beating Payton Stearns in her comeback match in Washington, D.C.
“Honestly, her serve is unbelievable,” Danilovich said. “Of course, we all know that. She’s serving really well in these big moments, so there’s nothing I can do. If she’s going to play like that, I put my hand up and that’s it. I stay calm and it works.”
Still, Williams showed explosiveness. She hit 60 percent of her serves, hit nine aces — four more than Danilovic — and won 74 percent of her first-serve points, coming very close to her first major match win since stopping Mihaela Buzanescu in the 2021 Wimbledon opener.
Although Williams is away from the singles scene tonight, she is still active in the doubles competition. williams and partners Ekaterina Alexandrova, She lost to Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez in the first round of singles, earning a doubles wild card.
Two people book a match Emiliana Arango and Elsa Jacquemot in their opener. Earlier on Sunday, Frenchwoman Jacques Motte defeated No. 20 seed Marta Kostyuk 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6(10) in an epic three-hour and 31-minute singles opener at ANZ Stadium.
“I mean, right now I’m very passionate about the tournament,” Williams said. “My next focus is doubles.
So this is my head. “
