Tennis icon Venus Williams, at 45 years old, made history at the 2026 Australian Open by becoming the oldest woman to compete in the tournament's singles main draw. Her return to Melbourne Park after a five-year absence, granted via a wildcard entry, was met with widespread anticipation. Williams, who will turn 46 in June, surpassed Japan's Kimiko Date's previous record. In a dramatic first-round encounter on January 18, 2026, Williams faced Serbia's Olga Danilovic, a player more than two decades her junior. Williams initially displayed her vintage form, winning the first set 7-6(5). However, Danilovic rallied to claim the second set 6-3. The deciding third set saw Williams surge to a commanding 4-0 lead, seemingly on the brink of victory. However, Danilovic orchestrated a remarkable comeback, winning six consecutive games to close out the match 6-4, securing an emotional victory in 2 hours and 17 minutes. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Williams received a standing ovation from the crowd and is set to continue her Australian Open campaign in the women's doubles draw alongside Ekaterina Alexandrova. Earlier, Williams was photographed arriving at Melbourne Park hand-in-hand with her husband, Andrea Preti, whom she married in December 2025.