Venus Williams receives Australian Open wild-card entry

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams received a wild-card entry into the main draw of this month's Australian Open, event organizers announced Friday in Australia (Thursday night U.S.).

Williams, 45, last competed in Melbourne in 2021 when she lost in the second round to Italy's Sara Errani. She is a two-time finalist at the event, losing to her sister Serena in both 2003 and 2017.

Venus Williams previously received a wild-card entry into the Auckland Open, a warm-up event for the Australian Open.

Williams played in three events in 2025 and stunningly defeated Peyton Stearns in straight sets in the first round of the DC Open in July in her first singles match in 16 months. She lost in the second round in straight sets to Magdalena Frech of Poland.

At the Cincinnati Open, Williams lost in two sets to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain in the opening round. She then lost in three sets to Czech Karolina Muchova in the first round of the U.S. Open but won three doubles matches with Canada's Leylah Fernandez before the duo lost to Taylor Townsend and Czech Katerina Siniakova in the quarterfinals.

Williams last won a Grand Slam title in 2008 when she was champion at Wimbledon for the fifth time. She also has won the U.S. Open twice.

--Field Level Media