Venus Williams is heading back to Melbourne, and with it comes a sense of sporting déjà vu that no algorithm can manufacture. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has been added to the Australian Open 2026 women’s entry list after receiving the final wildcard, marking her first appearance at Melbourne Park in five years.
At 45, Williams becomes the most historically resonant name on a draw otherwise shaped by youth, protected rankings and late momentum. Her return does not shift the balance of power, but it unmistakably shifts the atmosphere.
A Familiar Stage With Unfinished Business
Melbourne has never been neutral territory for Williams. Across 21 appearances, she has won 54 matches, reached the quarterfinals nine times, and twice stood one win short of the trophy — losing the 2003 and 2017 finals to her sister Serena.
Her last appearance came in 2021, when she defeated Kirsten Flipkens in straight sets to become the first woman over 40 to win a Grand Slam singles match since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 2004. The run ended in round two against qualifier Sara Errani, but the milestone lingered.
Wildcards, Rankings and Reality
Currently ranked No. 582, Williams required a wildcard to enter the main draw, a formality whenever she chooses to compete. Her acceptance of a wildcard into next week’s ASB Classic in Auckland had already pointed toward a broader Australian swing.
Tennis Australia had announced seven of the eight women’s singles wildcards before confirming Williams, finalizing a list dominated by home players. Australians Talia Gibson (No. 118), Priscilla Hon (No. 121), Emerson Jones (No. 147) and Taylah Preston (No. 205) were joined by France’s Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (No. 117) via the FFT agreement, Elizabeth Mandlik (No. 179) through the USTA, and Zarina Diyas (No. 281), who earned her place by winning the Asia-Pacific Playoff in Chengdu.
Williams completes the set — and immediately becomes its focal point.
Short Bursts, Lasting Presence
Wins have been sporadic in recent seasons, but not absent. Williams beat Peyton Stearns at the DC Open last year, appeared at both Cincinnati and the US Open, and quietly reached the doubles quarterfinals in New York alongside Leylah Fernandez.
Whether her Australian Open return extends beyond singles remains open. Doubles wildcards have yet to be announced, and Williams has shown little hesitation about competing across formats when invited.
For now, her name alone adds gravity to the 2026 entry list. Melbourne has seen her brilliance, her heartbreak and her longevity before — and at 45, Venus Williams is back to remind the Australian Open that familiarity, when earned, still matters.
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