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A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has secured a special invitation for the Australian Open, commencing on the 18th of January in the city of Melbourne.

A Landmark Comeback to the Australian Courts

Tournament officials announced on Friday that the forty-five-year-old legend will make a return at the tournament venue a staggering 28 years after her first appearance. Back in 1998, she defeated her sibling Serena in the early stage before bowing out in the quarter-finals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.

Gearing Up for the Australian Summer

The tennis star had previously revealed in November her intention to compete in Auckland, New Zealand, where she was likewise awarded a special entry, two weeks before the Australian Open. The Australian Open noted that Williams is scheduled to play a tournament in Hobart, Australia a following week, just before the action begins at the main venue.

Her last appearance in Melbourne was in 2021, and she has finished runner-up in the women’s singles on two occasions, losing to Serena in the finals of 2003 and 2017.

"I’m excited to return in Australia and eagerly anticipating competing during the Australian summer," Venus said. "I have experienced so many unforgettable memories there, and I’m grateful for the chance to go back to a place that has been so significant to my professional journey."

By the Numbers

Williams' overall record at Melbourne Park stands at an impressive 54 victories and 21 defeats. The upcoming edition will mark the 22nd time she has competed in the primary tournament field.

Setting a Fresh Benchmark

The tournament indicated that Williams is poised to be the oldest woman to compete in an Open's singles competition, eclipsing the mark formerly set by Japanese Kimiko Date, who was forty-four when she was defeated in the opening round at the venue in 2015.

Recent Life Event

In the final days of December, Williams wed Danish-born actor and model Andrea Preti in Florida's Palm Beach.