Venus Williams, who received a wildcard to play at this year’s tournament, will become the oldest player to compete at the Australian Open at the age of 45.
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| Williams admitted that she needed to be kind to herself, adding that she was playing well on the court, in the way she was setting up and controlling the points. (AP Photo) |
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams may have won an Australian Open singles title in her career, but that has not reduced her zest towards competing at the slam, starting on Sunday. Williams, who received a wildcard to play at this year’s tournament, will become the oldest player to compete at the Australian Open at the age of 45.
“This is the greatest place on Earth to play. I have had amazing memories here. I love challenges, so I’m up for the challenge.”
Williams, who will be making her 22nd main draw appearance, admitted that she had not thought of becoming the oldest player to play at Melbourne Park until it came out in the news.
“I hadn’t thought about it till it came out in the press, so yay, yay for me. Let’s do this,” she said.
Williams last played in the Australian Open five years ago and admitted that she was “grateful” to have received a wildcard for the 2026 edition, adding that the place around Melbourne Park felt the same, even though it had undergone a transformation.
“I’m super, super grateful for the opportunity from Tennis Australia. Grateful for the opportunity to play in front of the fans. I have just received so much support in the tournaments leading up, walking around the city and everything. My hope is to play my best,” she said.
“I don’t know my way around. I can hear the ghosts of the old footprint, but I’m lost. Definitely took a lot of wrong turns, but it’s great to see the expansion and the investment in tennis,” Williams added.
Williams admitted that she needed to be kind to herself, adding that she was playing well on the court, in the way she was setting up and controlling the points.
“At this point, I need to be kind to myself, because I’m getting so many things right, but, you know, there had been a lack of playing matches. So, you know, I’m playing well. I’m setting myself up each point to win points and controlling the points. That’s exactly how I’d want to play, and I’m playing the tennis I need to play.”
Williams will take on Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in the first round clash at the John Cain Arena on Sunday. She is a two-time runner-up in the singles event, having last reached the final in 2017.
She has, however, won four women’s doubles titles and one mixed doubles title, the last of the former coming in 2010.
- Express News Service
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