Venus Williams Eyes Australian Open Return at 45

In the humid prelude to Australia’s summer swing, seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has drawn a wild-card entry for the Australian Open, kicking off January 18 at Melbourne Park. This pulls her back to the scene of early triumphs and sibling showdowns, four years since her last appearance in 2021. At 45, she steps into a field that tests power against pace, her flat serves and inside-out forehands ready to slice through the plexicushion bounce.

The tournament’s social media post Friday lit up the news, marking 28 years since her 1998 debut. That run saw her topple Serena in the second round with deep crosscourt lasers that forced errors, before Lindsay Davenport‘s probing returns ended it in the quarterfinals. Williams’ history here includes two runner-up finishes, both to Serena in 2003 and 2017, where the heat amplified every grueling rally.

Building momentum in Auckland

Two weeks before Melbourne, Williams tunes up with another wild-card at the WTA event in Auckland, New Zealand, on greenset courts that echo the Australian hard-court grip. This buffer lets her dial in the one–two punch of serve and forehand, mixing heavy topspin to push opponents back while testing slice backhands for variety. The psychological edge of live points sharpens her focus, countering the quiet grind of off-season drills and setting up for the main draw’s intensity.

Her 54 wins against 21 losses at Melbourne Park highlight a surface that rewards her aggressive baseline game, especially when she varies down-the-line passes to disrupt steady returns. Those 2003 and 2017 finals demanded endurance under the sun, her kick serves climbing high to claim points outright. Now, with limited starts left, she channels that resolve into efficient practices, prioritizing net rushes over prolonged exchanges.

Shattering records on plexicushion

Williams will become the oldest woman in an Australian Open main draw, topping Kimiko Date’s 44 years from a 2015 first-round exit. This 22nd appearance blends her seven Slams’ weight with the tour’s fresh demands, where younger players loop topspin to extend rallies. On plexicushion’s moderate pace, she adjusts by angling crosscourt forehands low, forcing short balls for inside-in winners that exploit the bounce.

Off-court, her late December wedding to Danish model and actor Andrea Preti in Palm Beach, Florida, infuses personal energy into the comeback. The crowd’s energy on Rod Laver Arena could echo her 1998 breakthrough, turning early matches into momentum builders. As draws reveal potential clashes with baseline grinders, her experience in reading serves—honed over 75 Melbourne contests—positions her to steal tiebreaks with precise placement.

Legacy fuels the hard-court fire

Melbourne’s atmosphere, thick with daytime heat and evening hum, amplifies Williams’ every stroke, from defensive underspin to power forehands that pin deep. Facing a reloaded field, she leans on tactical shifts like drop shots to break rhythms, adapting her hybrid style to an era of high-bouncing returns. This wild-card honors her past while demanding present sharpness, where one well-timed serve could stretch her run deep into the fortnight.

The Australian summer’s demands test not just legs but mindset, drawing on finals scars to sustain focus amid the field’s depth. Williams’ presence reminds the tour that champions evolve, blending power with patience on courts that once bowed to her speed. As January unfolds, her rallies promise to bridge eras, carving new moments from enduring grit.