Venus Williams has hit back at critics questioning her Australian Open wildcard, saying the fire inside her still burns and that she wouldn’t be making the long journey if she didn’t feel ready to compete.
The 45-year-old American, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, received a main draw wildcard for the 2026 tournament in Melbourne Park, marking her first appearance there in five years and setting her up to become the oldest woman ever to play in the event’s main draw.
Williams’ decision to return to elite competition has sparked debate among fans and commentators, with some suggesting the wildcard could have gone to a younger hopeful. Many critics argued that her current world ranking wouldn’t normally qualify her for direct entry and that her limited recent match play raised questions about her competitiveness.
Fans, however, are ecstatic.
Williams has been clear about her motivation. Speaking ahead of the tournament, she said that joy and embracing discomfort are central to her mindset, and that she still feels the “fire” that drives her to compete. She admitted she has played fewer matches than others but sees every opportunity to step on court as valuable preparation.
Her recent season build-up included an outing at the Auckland Open where she pushed a younger seeded opponent and served aces and moved well throughout the match.
Williams staged a successful comeback in 2025 following a 16-month break due to health issues, including uterine fibroid surgery, and went on to achieve one of the oldest singles victories on the WTA Tour.
As the Australian Open draws closer, Williams’ presence is already one of the most talked-about stories of the year’s first Grand Slam; unsurprising given her enduring influence on women’s tennis and the game more broadly.