Thanks to a wildcard entry, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will feature in the main draw of the 2023 Australian Open. This will be her 22nd time competing at Melbourne Park, a tradition she started 25 years ago in 1998. Although she reached the women's singles finals in 2003 and 2017, she was unable to overcome her sister Serena in those matchups. However, her track record remains impressive, with nine other deep runs into the quarterfinals or beyond.
Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will be competing in the main draw of the Australian Open after being awarded a wildcard entry to the 2023 event next month. Venus Williams will make her 22nd appearance at Melbourne Park in 25 years. The two-time finalist made her first appearance way back in 1998. The American tennis player reached the women’s singles final in 2003 and 2017 but was defeated by her sister Serena Williams on both occasions. Williams has reached the quarterfinals or better on nine other occasions.
The 2023 Australian Open is set for January 16 through January 29 at Melbourne Park. At 42 years old and with a ranking currently below the top 1,000, Venus is returning from a hiatus; her last competitive match was a first-round loss to Belgium's Alison Van Uytvanck at the 2022 U.S. Open.
Venus expressed her genuine excitement about returning to Melbourne for the first major of the year. Reflecting on her career, she noted that she has played in Australia for more than twenty years and has always felt deeply supported by the local fans. She added that playing for the crowd once again is a true honor and that she is eager to create new memories at this year's event.
The last time Venus competed at the Australian Open was in 2021, where her run ended in the second round against Sara Errani. She has since been training rigorously to bounce back from a frustrating performance at the 2022 U.S. Open doubles. It has been a challenging stretch for the American, as she has suffered six consecutive losses on the WTA Tour since her second-round appearance at Wimbledon.
Williams revealed that she has been focusing heavily on her game, specifically refining her forehand, which she views as one of the most critical shots in the sport. Additionally, she is putting in significant work on her serve, aiming to increase its power and consistency to stay competitive.
Craig Tiley, the tournament director for the Australian Open, praised Venus not only as an elite athlete but as a pivotal leader and role model for the sport of tennis. He expressed the organization's delight in welcoming her back. Meanwhile, the tournament will also see the return of Novak Djokovic following the controversy surrounding his absence during the pandemic.