Tennis great Venus Williams, now 45, has been awarded a wildcard into the 2026 Australian Open main draw, the tournament announced Friday. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion will return to Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021, marking her 22nd appearance at the season-opening major and surpassing Japan’s Kimiko Date to become the oldest woman ever to compete in the event’s main draw. 

Williams, who has twice finished runner-up at the Australian Open and holds a memorable 54-21 career record at Melbourne Park, expressed excitement about returning to a venue filled with personal and professional milestones. She’ll also prepare for the tournament with appearances at warm-up events in Auckland and Hobart before the Australian Open begins on January 18.