Venus Williams has been awarded an Australian Open wildcard and is set to feature in the 2023 season’s first grand slam in Melbourne.
The 42-year old tennis star will return to Melbourne Park next month for a 22nd time. Venus is a seven-time major singles champion and first appeared in Melbourne Park in 1998 when she was only 16-years old.
Venus’ return to Melbourne comes a year after neither Williams sister contested the Open for the first time in a quarter of a century.
In a Tennis Australia statement, Venus expressed her excitement to be competing at the Australian Open and said: “I’ve been competing in the country for over 20 years now and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly.
“It will be an honour to play for the fans again and I’m looking forward to making more memories at the tournament this year.”
Venus reached the Australian Open final twice, in 2003 and 2017, but lost to her sister, Serena, both times.
In addition to this, Venus has reached at least a quarterfinal stage on nine occasions and in doubles, she and her sisters combined to win the women’s title four times- 2001, 2003, 2009 and 2010. Venus also captured the mixed doubles crown in 1998.
The 41-year old tennis star, Serena won’t be returning to Melbourne, after announcing she’d “evolve away from tennis” following her US Open loss to Australian No. 1 Ajla Tomljanovic in September.
Venus is ranked 1,007 on the WTA standings and will join a strong women’s field in Melbourne, featuring 12 major champions and an unusually high main-draw entry ranking cut-off of No. 95.
Tournament director Craig Tiley expressed his delight in welcoming Venus back saying that she’s “not just an incredible player and fan favourite, she’s a great role model and leader in our sport in so many ways.”
Following Venus’ wildcard, The Age reports there’s a strong likelihood that only four wildcards will be given to Australian women, the following four having the best chances: Storm Sanders, Priscilla Hon, Jaimee Fourlis, Kim Birrell, Maddison Inglis and Olivia Gadecki
The 2023 Australia Open runs from January 16-29.