Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open 2026, marking her return to Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021. At 45, she is poised to become the oldest woman to compete in the tournament's main draw, surpassing Kimiko Date's record. Williams expressed excitement about returning to Australia, a country holding significant career memories, including two past Australian Open finals appearances in 2003 and 2017.