Venus Williams’ return to the sport is set to continue after her wildcard spot at the 2026 Auckland Open was confirmed on Tuesday.
Williams, an eight-time Grand Slam singles champion, returned to the sport in July following a 16-month absence.
At her first tournament back – the Washington Open – 45-year-old Venus stunned world number 35 Peyton Stearns in the first round, winning the contest 6-3, 6-4.
Williams, who has also participated in doubles events since her return, then participated at the Cincinnati Open, where she lost 4-6, 4-6 to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round.
The five-time Wimbledon singles champion impressed fans again just a few weeks later, pushing 11th seed Karolina Muchova to three sets in the US Open first round.
Simply put, Venus has proven she can still mix it with the best on the WTA Tour, and the Australian Open should take note when deciding their wildcards for next year’s tournament.
Venus Williams should be given an Australian Open wildcard
Venus Williams is most certainly deserving of a spot at the 2026 Australian Open.
Her defeat of Stearns and her impressive performance against Muchova prove she still has the tools to compete at the highest level.
The American has also proved her worth in the doubles format, reaching the quarter-finals at the Washington Open and US Open.
However, it must be noted that if Venus is given a wildcard spot, this may prevent a young talent from being handed the opportunity to shine on a big stage.
This is a valid argument, one that should be considered carefully. However, the potential benefits of Venus’ inclusion far outweigh this argument.
Venus’ inclusion would have a big impact on tennis fans and the sport as a whole. She is one of the most popular figures in tennis, one who is rightly adored by fans across the globe, and her inclusion at the Australian Open would undoubtedly increase the tournament’s exposure and generate more excitement for tennis fans.
Venus’ time in the sport is limited, and the Australian Open should follow the Auckland Open’s example by offering Venus a wildcard spot at their 2026 tournament.
The Auckland Open is scheduled to run from December 30, 2025, to January 5, 2026. The Australian Open will run from January 12 to February 1.
Venus Williams has never won the Australian Open singles title
Venus Williams has featured in the Australian Open Ladies Singles draw on 21 occasions, but has never won the title.
The American has reached the final twice: in 2003 and 2017.
In 2003, Serena Williams defeated Venus 7–6, 3–6, 6–4 to win her first Australian Open crown. The same story occurred 14 years later when Serena beat Venus 6-4, 6-4 in the 2017 Australian Open Ladies Singles final.
Venus last participated at the Australian Open in 2021. After beating Kirsten Flipkens, she lost to Sara Errani in the second round.
