Melbourne, Dec. 19 (US): Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will play her 22nd Australian Open after earning a wildcard to next month’s 2023 event.
Reuters reports that the 42-year-old American, who reached two World Cup finals at Melbourne Park, is ranked outside the top 1,000 and has not played a competitive match since being knocked out of the US Open in the first round by unseeded Belgian Alison Van. Oytfank.
“I have been competing in the country for over 20 years now and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly,” Williams said in a statement on Monday.
“It will be an honor to play for the fans again and I’m looking forward to making more memories at the tournament this year.”
Williams has lost her last six matches on the WTA Tour since reaching the second round at Wimbledon.
Serena Williams, her sister to the 23-time Grand Slam champion, has announced she is “taking a step away” from tennis after the last US Open, as she withdrew in the third round.
ZHB