Venus Williams Gets 2026 Australian Open Wild Card Entry at 45 Years Old

Venus Williams is heading back to the Australian Open for the first time since 2021.

The legendary tennis player received one of the remaining wild card entries into the tournament and will take the court at 45 years old later this month.

Williams had an injury-riddled 2023 season, which led many to believe she was on the verge of calling it a career. However, she made a comeback in 2024, participating in Indian Wells and the Miami Open.

Last year, she turned down a wild card invite to Indian Wells, which once again sparked questions about her retirement. She clarified that she planned to return to the court eventually.

"While I haven't retired and am still open to returning to the court when the time feels right, commentating allows me to stay immersed in the sport without the physical demands of competition," she said.

She ultimately made her first appearance of 2025 in the DC Open, where she beat Peyton Stearns to earn her first singles win since 2023. That win made her the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level match. She also advanced to the doubles quarterfinal alongside Hailey Baptiste.

Williams then participated in the Cincinnati Open, but lost in the first round. She also lost in the first round of the US Open in singles and mixed doubles, but made the women's doubles quarterfinals with Leylah Fernandez. It marked her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2017.

Williams showed last year that she still has some tennis left to play, but she'll have her work cut out for her later this month when she goes up against a new generation of tennis players at the Australian Open.