Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has received one of the remaining wild cards for the 2026 Australian Open.
The 45-year-old last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has finished runner up in the women’s singles twice, losing to her sister Serena in the finals of both 2003 and 2017.
Somewhat remarkably, Williams made her Australian Open debut way back in 1998 where she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before eventually losing in the quarterfinals to world number three, and fellow American, Lindsay Davenport.
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Overall Williams boasts a career 54-21 singles record at Melbourne Park.
This year’s tournament will be the 22nd time she’s appeared in the main draw.
Williams had intended to play in 2024 however injuries forced her to miss the Australian summer.
Last September she was the oldest singles player at the 2025 US Open where she reached the quarterfinals.
The 2026 Australian Open begins on Monday, 12 January.
She’s BACK 🙌
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 1, 2026
7x Grand Slam champion, @Venuseswilliams ✨ pic.twitter.com/KuByXJro2p