Venus Williams made history at the Australian Open on Sunday, becoming the oldest woman to compete in the tournament’s singles main draw, but her record-setting appearance ended in a first-round defeat.
Playing on a wild card and ranked No. 576, the 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion was edged out by Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, who rallied for a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 victory in 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Williams led 4-0 in the deciding set before Danilovic mounted a comeback, winning six consecutive games to seal the match.
By stepping onto the court, Williams surpassed the previous age record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who competed at age 44 in 2015.
Despite the loss, Williams left the court smiling and waving to the crowd.
“It was an amazing journey on the court today,” Williams said. “I’m really proud of my effort because I’m playing better with each match.”
Williams, who made her Australian Open debut as a 17-year-old in 1998 and has reached two finals in Melbourne, showed flashes of her trademark power, particularly during a dominant stretch early in the third set.
However, Danilovic, ranked No. 68, raised her level with aggressive left-handed forehands and steady serving under pressure.
At 4-4 in the final set, Williams endured a marathon service game lasting more than 14 minutes, saving break points and firing aces before eventually being broken. Danilovic then calmly served out the match.
“It was such a pleasure playing against such a legend,” Danilovic said. “At 4-0, I just told myself to play.”
Williams, who married Italian actor Andrea Preti in December, is continuing her comeback after limited success in recent months.
She plans to remain in Melbourne to compete in the doubles draw before deciding on the rest of her 2026 schedule.
“Right now, I’m very much in the tournament,” Williams said. “My next focus is the doubles.”
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