By Richard Pagliaro Thursday, January 1, 2026
Photo credit: Korff/Mark Peterson
Venus Williams is making a record-breaking return to Oz.
Former world number one Venus Williams has accepted a wild card into this month’s Australian Open.
The 45-year-old superstar will compete in the Australian Open for the first time since 2021. Venus Williams, who returned to tennis tournaments last July in Washington, D.C., will compete outside the United States for the first time since 2023.
It will be a record-breaking Australian tournament: Venus will become the oldest woman to compete in the AO main draw, breaking the record set by Kimiko Date at the age of 44 when she competed in the 2015 Melbourne Grand Slam.
Overall, Venus Williams has a 54-21 record at the Australian Open, including finals in 2003 and 2017. She lost in both finals to sister Serena Williams.
The main draw of the Australian Open will be held from January 18 to February 1.
Venus’s marriage partner, the 37-year-old Italian actor and model, received a wild card Andrea Pretty, Last month in Palm Beach, Florida.
Radiant Venus looked gorgeous in a white wedding dress.
The Florida wedding was preceded by a ceremony on September 18 in Ischia, Italy.
“We all love each other very much” Venus told Vogue. “This is the happiest, most beautiful, sweetest day.”
