Venus Williams exited the Australian Open in the first round on Sunday, 18 January 2026, but left Melbourne Park with her head held high after making history as the oldest woman ever to compete in the tournament.
The 45-year-old American, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, was awarded a wildcard for the season’s opening major, marking her first appearance at the Australian Open in five years. The decision drew some criticism, particularly after early losses in her warm-up events, but Williams showed flashes of her enduring quality in a gripping three-set contest.
Williams was eventually beaten 6–7 (5/7), 6–3, 6–4 by Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in a match lasting two hours and 17 minutes, with the world number 69 winning the final six games to seal victory.
“It was such a great game, such a great moment,” Williams said afterwards. “The energy from the crowd was amazing. That lifted me up so much.
“She played a great match. There was some luck as well — that’s tennis sometimes. I’m really proud of my effort because I’m playing better with each match and getting closer to where I want to be.”
Despite being ranked 578, the former world number one started brightly, breaking Danilovic’s serve in the opening game. The Serb responded quickly, helped by a fortunate net cord, as the opening set moved into a tie-break.
Williams recovered from an early deficit in the breaker to take the set with a crisp forehand winner, drawing loud applause from the Melbourne crowd. Danilovic, however, struck back in the second set with an early break, forcing the match into a decider.
The American surged into a 4–0 lead in the final set, but momentum shifted as Danilovic fought back to level at 4–4. A marathon ninth game lasting more than 14 minutes proved decisive, with Williams unable to convert six game points. Danilovic eventually broke serve before holding to complete the comeback.
“There were a lot of nerves,” Danilovic said. “I just told myself to play point by point. It was such a pleasure to play a legend like her.”
Williams received a standing ovation as she left the court. A five-time Wimbledon champion, she has played sparingly in recent seasons and was previously a finalist at the Australian Open in 2003 and 2017. She has also won four doubles titles in Melbourne alongside her sister Serena.
Williams first played at Melbourne Park in 1998. She surpassed Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she competed in the 2015 tournament, to become the oldest woman to appear in singles at the Australian Open.
