MELBOURNE, Australia — In a historic moment that transcended the match outcome, Venus Williams became the oldest woman to compete in the Australian Open singles main draw at 45 years old, though her campaign ended in a dramatic first-round defeat against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion, competing on a wild-card entry while ranked No. 576 worldwide, showcased flashes of her legendary prowess during the 2-hour, 17-minute contest. After splitting the first two sets, Williams surged to a commanding 4-0 lead in the decider before the 68th-ranked Danilovic mounted an extraordinary comeback, winning six consecutive games to secure a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 victory.
The match reached its climax in a monumental 14-minute, 28-second service game at 4-4 in the third set, where Williams saved two break points and delivered clutch aces before ultimately succumbing to the relentless pressure from her 22-year-old opponent.
Williams surpassed the previous age record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 during her 2015 Australian Open appearance. This marked Williams’ 22nd appearance at Melbourne Park, where she previously reached finals in 2003 and 2017.
Despite the defeat, Williams remained characteristically gracious and optimistic. ‘I’m really proud of my effort today because I’m playing better with each match,’ she reflected. ‘It’s super exciting to have played that well and to get myself in that position.’
Danilovic, visibly awed by the occasion, expressed reverence for her opponent: ‘Playing against Venus Williams is something I can’t take for granted. It was such a pleasure playing against such a legend.’
Williams now turns her attention to the doubles competition before evaluating her schedule for the remainder of the season, continuing what she describes as a process of ‘relearning’ competitive tennis at the highest level.