Venus Williams Makes Australian Open History at 45 Despite First-Round Exit. Venus Williams made history at the Australian Open, becoming the oldest woman to compete in the singles main draw at age 45. The seven-time Grand Slam champion entered the tournament on a wild card, ranked No. 576, marking her 22nd appearance at Melbourne Park. Williams pushed Olga Danilovic to three sets, leading 4-0 in the decider before the Serbian mounted a comeback to win 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4. A dramatic 14-minute service game late in the third set saw Williams save multiple break points before eventually conceding the decisive break. Despite the loss, Williams said she felt encouraged by her level, noting steady improvement and renewed confidence with each match. Danilovic, ranked No. 68, praised Williams as a legend and said facing her was a moment she wanted to fully embrace. Williams first played the Australian Open in 1998 at age 17 and reached two finals there, both times losing to her sister Serena.