Venus Williams given 2026 Australian Open wild card as incredible career continues
NewsFriday, 02 January 2026 at 14:30
45-year-old Venus Williams will make at least one more appearance at the Australian Open after being awarded a wild card for the 2026 edition.
Williams is a two-time women's singles runner-up at the opening Grand Slam of each season. She lost both finals against her younger sister Serena, who enjoyed an even more illustrious career before retiring at the 2022 US Open.
Some thought Venus would retire or make a farewell appearance somewhere when she did not compete on the WTA Tour for 17 months. That changed when she played at the 2025 Citi Open, winning a match against Peyton Stearns.
That was followed by matches at the 2025 Cincinnati Open and the 2025 US Open, pushing Karolina Muchova to three sets at the latter with a strong performance. Her level at 45 in that contest was incredible.
Williams's first appearance of 2026 will be at the ASB Classic, which is scheduled from January 5th to 11th. She received a wild card for the tournament in Auckland and will be one of the star attractions for fans.
Now, Williams has been handed a wild card for the 2026 Australian Open. In a short statement, the tennis legend expressed her gratitude and said she has fond memories of her previous appearances at the event.
"I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer. I’ve had so many incredible memories there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”
Expectations will not be overly high for Williams because of her age. However, the five-time Wimbledon women's singles champion showed last year that she can thrill fans with excellent serving and shot-making.
An announcement about Serena Williams has created rumors about Venus Williams retiring
Despite being retired for over three years, Serena Williams caused a stir a few weeks ago when news emerged that she had reapplied to the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) procedures for random testing.
Players cannot compete on the ATP or WTA Tours unless they are on the ITIA's list. Serena's doing this sparked rumors that she was plotting a sensational comeback despite being away from professional tennis for so long.
The 23-time Grand Slam women's singles champion quashed those rumors by saying she was not making a return. That left a question mark surrounding why she applied for the ITIA's procedures if she is not making a proper comeback.
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Serena has not responded to why she did that. It is possible that her older sister, Venus Williams, who remains active despite being 45, plans to retire at the 2026 US Open, the same tournament where Serena finished her career.
If true, the sisters might be considering a final doubles appearance at Flushing Meadows. Their close bond off the court and legendary statuses would make one final professional match together feel fitting.
Applying for the ITIA's procedures last month gives her enough time to be eligible for the 2026 US Open if the speculation is true and the event hands her a wild card.
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