45-year-old Venus Williams sets Australian Open record but loses in first round
MELBOURNE, Australia — It took 45 years to create a record that attracted so much attention. So for Venus Williams, another 14 1/2 minutes of service time to keep her Australian Open hopes alive felt like no time at all.
The 576th-ranked wild card led 4-0 in Sunday’s third set before Olga Danilovic rallied to win six games in a row to make a crucial breakthrough in the extra-long penultimate game to win 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.
“It was an amazing journey on the court today,” said Williams, who left the stadium with a smile and a wave.
In just the first round match, Williams became the oldest female player to participate in the singles main draw of the Australian Open, surpassing the record set by Japan’s Kimiko Date (44 years old when she lost in the first round in 2015).
“I’m really proud of my effort today because I’m playing better every game and getting to where I want to be,” Williams said. “Now I have to keep going and try to control my mistakes.
“Those things come with the extra games as well … all those things I’m still learning. It’s a little weird, but to be able to play so well and put myself in that position and be so close, it’s very exciting.”
In 1998, at the age of 17, she made her Australian Open debut and reached the quarterfinals. This is her 22nd trip to Melbourne Park, having lost to sister Serena in the finals in 2003 and 2017.
Williams married Andrea Preti in December and the couple traveled to Melbourne together.
Williams is determined to not only break Deiter’s age record. She hopes to underscore that with a win that could set the stage for another matchup with Coco Gauff.
After the first two sets, Williams continued her form, dropping just five points in four games and hitting some classic winners. Then 68th-ranked Danilovic found range with her left-hand forehand return and put pressure on Williams.
“I told myself before the match that I really wanted to seize this moment – playing against Venus Williams is something I can’t take for granted,” Danilovic said. “When it was 4-0, I said ‘Just fight.'”
“It’s a real pleasure to play against such a legend.”
At 4-4 in the final set, Williams served for 14 minutes and 28 seconds, saved two break points, and created her own game point with a powerful winner and a key ace before finally succumbing.
“It was such a great match, such a great moment. The energy of the crowd was amazing. It was so uplifting for me,” Williams said of her penultimate game on serve. “She had a great game. Plus, there was some luck. That’s the sport. That’s how it goes sometimes. But it was an amazing moment.”
Danilovic served calmly, and Williams’ forehand hit the net and just wide of the line at match point 2 hours and 17 minutes later, sealing the victory.
Williams enters the Australian Open on a five-match losing streak since recording her first and only win since returning to the tour in Washington last year. Her comeback at the U.S. Open last August also ended in the first round.
“Yeah, I felt good on the fourth love. And, it’s the biggest lead I’ve had since I’ve been back,” Williams said. “In a lot of ways, I had to relearn how to do things, if that makes sense.”
She will continue the process in a doubleheader at Melbourne Park before she considers her schedule for the remainder of 2026.
“I’m very passionate about tournaments right now,” she said. “My next focus is doubles. So that’s what’s in my head.”
