### Venus Williams Makes History as the Oldest Player in Australian Open History Venus Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, is set to make history at the 2026 Australian Open by becoming the oldest woman to compete in the singles main draw at the age of 45. This milestone comes after she received a wild-card entry, allowing her to participate in the tournament for the first time in five years. Williams, who first played in the Australian Open in 1998, is optimistic about her performance despite limited recent play, having only returned to the tour last season after a 16-month hiatus. She is scheduled to face Olga Danilovic in the first round, and if victorious, could meet third-seeded Coco Gauff in the next round [https://apnews.com/article/venus-williams-australian-open-tennis-melbourne-1f40bad4e1f8ab413af16a0dac5fc0e1][https://www.rediff.com/sports/report/at-45-venus-williams-breaks-record-with-ao-wildcard/20260117.htm]. ### Overview of Venus Williams' Historic Participation 1. **Record Achievement**: - Venus Williams will become the oldest woman to compete in the Australian Open singles draw at 45 years old [https://www.rediff.com/sports/report/at-45-venus-williams-breaks-record-with-ao-wildcard/20260117.htm]. 2. **Wild-Card Entry**: - She received a wild-card entry from the tournament organizers, which is a significant opportunity for her after a five-year absence from the event [https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/venus-williams-grateful-for-australian-open-wildcard]. 3. **Recent Performance**: - Williams returned to competitive tennis last season, winning only one of her four tour-level matches, indicating a challenging comeback [https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/01/17/tennis/venus-williams-australian-open-wild-card]. 4. **First Match Details**: - She is set to face 68th-ranked Olga Danilovic in the first round, with the potential to meet third-seeded Coco Gauff if she advances [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/venus-williams-up-for-the-challenge-of-australian-open-at-45-1930842]. ### Supporting Evidence of Williams' Historic Milestone - **Age Record**: At 45, Williams surpasses the previous record for the oldest female competitor in the Australian Open singles draw [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3772858-venus-williams-defying-age-and-creating-history-at-the-australian-open]. - **Career Highlights**: Williams has won seven Grand Slam titles, showcasing her long-standing presence and success in the sport [https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/01/17/venus-williams-up-for-australian-open-challenge-at-45]. - **Public Sentiment**: Williams expressed her gratitude towards the Australian Open organizers for the wild-card entry, emphasizing her excitement about this opportunity [https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sports/yay-for-me-venus-williams-set-to-become-oldest-woman-in-australian-open-singles-draw]. ### Conclusion: A Historic Moment for Venus Williams In summary, **Venus Williams is poised to make history at the 2026 Australian Open as the oldest woman to compete in the singles draw**. This achievement is marked by her wild-card entry, allowing her to return to a tournament she hasn't played in for five years. 1. **Historic Participation**: At 45, she breaks age records in the tournament [https://www.rediff.com/sports/report/at-45-venus-williams-breaks-record-with-ao-wildcard/20260117.htm]. 2. **Challenging Comeback**: Despite limited recent play, her determination remains strong as she prepares for her first match against Danilovic [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/venus-williams-up-for-the-challenge-of-australian-open-at-45-1930842]. 3. **Community Support**: Williams' gratitude towards the organizers reflects the support she has from the tennis community [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3772858-venus-williams-defying-age-and-creating-history-at-the-australian-open]. This moment not only highlights her resilience but also serves as an inspiration to athletes of all ages.