Venus Williams Earns a Wildcard to Chase History at the Australian Open 2026
2 January 2026
In a move described as a predictable surprise, the Australian Open organizing committee awarded Venus Williams a wildcard entry. Despite turning 45, Venus shows no sign of letting go of her racket, returning for the season's first Grand Slam from January 18 to February 1, 2026.
Wildcard welcome for a legend
With her appearance in 2026, Venus would become the oldest player to compete in the tournament’s main draw, surpassing Japan’s Kimiko Date who played at 44.
Currently ranked 581 in the world and with 49 career titles, including seven Grand Slam titles in singles, Venus remains a force in the sport.
She also received wildcard invites to Auckland and Hobart as part of her Grand Slam preparation.
Her first Australian Open appearance was in 1998, when she defeated her sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals.
Milestones and 2026 aspirations
The 2026 edition would be her 22nd main-draw appearance, with two finals reached in 2003 and 2017, both times losing to Serena Williams.
Punchline 1: Age is just a number—and Venus keeps turning that number into a serve!
Punchline 2: If time were a weapon, Venus would file a wildcard on Father Time and win the round with a backhand blitz.
