Venus Williams awarded 2023 Australian Open wild card, no sign of retirement for 42-year-old
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Published 19/12/2022 at 08:54 GMT
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been awarded a wild card for the 2023 Australian Open in January. Twenty-five years after making her debut in Melbourne, Williams will be in the main draw and is showing no signs of following the footsteps of her sister Serena Williams, who retired earlier this year. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.
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Venus Williams has been given a wild card for the 2023 Australian Open which will be the 92nd Grand Slam of her career.
Williams, who made her debut in Melbourne in 1998, is 42 years old and has shown no indication of following in the footsteps of her sister Serena Williams who retired earlier this year.
The Australian Open takes place from 16-29 January live and exclusive on Eurosport and discovery+.
"I am very excited to be returning to Melbourne to compete at the Australian Open in January," Williams said.
"I've been competing in the country for over 20 years now and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly.
"It will be an honour to play for the fans again and I'm looking forward to making more memories at the tournament this year."
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley added: “Venus is not just an incredible player and fan favourite, she’s a great role model and leader in our sport in so many ways.
“We are delighted to welcome her back to the AO in January.”
Venus Williams retirement not coming yet
Williams is a two-time Australian Open finalist but has never won the opening Grand Slam of the year in singles, having lost the 2003 and 2007 finals to her sister Serena.
She has won five doubles titles in Melbourne – four in the women’s doubles with Serena and a mixed doubles crown in 1998 with Justin Gimelstob.
Injury problems and a lack of form over the last three years have seen her drop to outside the top 1000 in the WTA rankings going into 2023.
Williams was given a wild card for the US Open in August which marked her return to Grand Slam action having missed the previous four majors.
She lost in the first round in straight sets to Alison Van Uytvanck but has not shown any signs of walking away from tennis yet.
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Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.
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