Venus Williams is set to make her return to the Australian Open in 2026 after a five-year absence, having been awarded a wildcard entry into the main draw. The seven-time Grand Slam champion will compete at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021.

Williams, who is now 45 years old, is preparing for the Australian Open by competing at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wildcard. This will be her sixth appearance at the Auckland event, where she previously won a title in 2015 and was a finalist in 2013.

The Australian Open begins on January 18th, and this year will mark Williams' 22nd appearance in the main draw. Her record at Melbourne Park stands at 54 wins and 21 losses. Although she has yet to win the title, she reached the final twice, in 2003 and 2017, losing on both occasions to her sister, Serena Williams. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.

Williams made her comeback to the sport in July 2025. In 2025, she entered three tournaments, suffering a first-round loss at the US Open but securing her first win in nearly two years by defeating Peyton Stearns in Washington D.C..

Williams is poised to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she played in 2015.

The announcement of Williams' wildcard has generated excitement among tennis fans, who are eager to see the veteran compete on the big stage once again. Despite facing retirement rumors, Williams has shown she remains competitive and has not signaled any intention to end her career.