MELBOURNE, Australia — After 45 years, Venus Williams found herself on the brink of setting a remarkable record that has captivated many. so, another 14½ minutes serving to maintain her hopes at the Australian Open felt almost trivial.
Ranked No. 576 and competing with a wild-card entry, the seven-time Grand Slam champion jumped to a 4-0 lead in the third set on Sunday, only to see Olga Danilovic come back for six consecutive game wins, securing a crucial break in the long, penultimate game, resulting in a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 win for Danilovic.
“It was an incredible journey on the court today,” Williams said, leaving the stadium with a beaming smile and a wave to the crowd.
By simply participating in the first-round match, Williams became the oldest woman to ever compete in the main draw of the Australian Open singles, eclipsing the previous record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she played in the first round in 2015.
“I’m truly proud of my performance today, as I’m improving with every match and reaching my desired levels,” Williams commented. “For now, my focus is on progressing and working on eliminating my errors.”
“These are aspects that come with more match play… it’s somewhat unconventional, but exhilarating to have performed so well and to have put myself in that position, almost reaching the win,” she added.
When she debuted at the Australian Open in 1998 at age 17, Williams progressed to the quarterfinals. This marked her 22nd visit to Melbourne Park, where she faced her sister, Serena, in the finals in 2003 and 2017.
In December, she married Andrea Preti, and the couple traveled together to Melbourne.
Williams aimed not only to break Date’s age record but also to add a win that could set up a match against Coco Gauff.
After splitting the initial sets, Williams surged ahead, losing just five points over four consecutive games while hitting some classic winners. yet, No. 68-ranked Danilovic regained her momentum with her powerful forehand returns, putting Williams back on the defensive.
“Before the match, I reminded myself of the significance of playing against Venus Williams — I can’t take this moment lightly,” Danilovic said. “When I was down 4-0, I just told myself to play my game.”
“It was a true honor to compete against such a legend.”
At 4-4 in the deciding set, Williams served for 14 minutes and 28 seconds, saving two break points and creating her own game points through powerful shots and crucial aces, but eventually fell short.
“That game was really thrilling and such a memorable moment. The crowd’s energy was phenomenal, uplifting my spirits significantly,” Williams reflected on that crucial game. “She played exceptionally well, and luck was on her side, too. That’s how the game goes sometimes, but it was truly an unforgettable experience.”
Danilovic successfully served out the match, clinching victory after 2 hours and 17 minutes when a forehand from Williams grazed the net and went wide on match point.
Entering the Australian Open, Williams was on a five-match losing streak, with her sole win since her comeback occurring at Washington last year. She had also exited in the first round at the US Open in August.
“At 4-0, I felt great. It was also the biggest advantage I’ve had since returning,” Williams commented. “In many ways, I’m relearning aspects of the game again, if that makes sense.”
She plans to continue this process in doubles at Melbourne Park before considering her schedule for the rest of 2026.
“Right now, I’m very much focused on the tournament,” she noted. “My next objective is the doubles, and that’s where my attention lies.”
