WTA legend Venus Williams is continuing to make history, as she has recently been given a wildcard entry to compete at the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open. With the wildcard, she has become the oldest player to compete in the main draw, receiving mixed reactions from the fans.
Fans Divided As Venus Williams Receives Wildcard Entry to the Australian Open
Williams, who is competing at the age of 45, had wrapped her 2025 season with three tournaments: the Grand Slam US Open, the Cincinnati Masters, and the Mubadala Citi DC Open. At the DC Open, she defeated the then 23-year-old Peyton Stearns in the round of 32. She became the oldest player to clinch a win at the WTA level since legend Martina Navratilova.
She also reached the quarterfinal rounds at the DC Open with Hailey Baptiste and at the US Open with Leylah Fernandez. Williams’ elite determination and will to still achieve more have led her to return to the court action even after fighting decade-long health issues of uterine fibroids and adenomyosis.
Williams is all set to play at the ASB Classic tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, and will also compete at the Hobart International, a warm-up event, with a wildcard. Considering her Australian Open run, she had never won the title. Still, she reached the final rounds twice, in 2003 and 2017, losing both times to her sister, Serena.
Her wildcard entry to the Grand Slam in Melbourne has subsequently garnered divided reactions from fans. The recent X post from The Tennis Letter shared, “BREAKING: Venus Williams has received a wildcard for the 2026 Australian Open. 45 years young legend. Make way for the 7-time Grand Slam Champ… Queen Vee is back. đź‘‘ 🇺🇲 ❤️”
To which one of the fans added, “She’s just living he life now, Icon, tennis still loves her, Met Gala co-chair, married and had a beautiful wedding?? I love who she has become.”
She’s just living he life now, Icon, tennis still loves her, Met Gala co-chair, married and had a beautiful wedding?? I love who she has become. https://t.co/1tjlIzmnkT
— Legally Black 🚀 (@SonOfPetty) January 2, 2026
Another added, defending how Williams deserves the wildcard given her impressive performances, “To the people complaining about this, she deserves the wildcard because A) she was compettitive in singles and doubles last year (singles match win and doubles US Open quarterfinal) and B) the young Aussie players who didn’t get one didn’t perform well enough (outside top 200).”
To the people complaining about this, she deserves the wildcard because A) she was compettitive in singles and doubles last year (singles match win and doubles US Open quarterfinal) and B) the young Aussie players who didn’t get one didn’t perform well enough (outside top 200). https://t.co/zwYOxzuMuj
— Matt 🎩 (@TimTtam77) January 2, 2026
The next tennis enthusiast shared, “By the way, this is somehow worse than Aryna’s match against Kyrgios when it comes to setting women’s tennis back Cos why does everyone think a 750 year old woman can compete on WTA singles tour.”
Another fan mentioned the unjustification of the wildcard given to Williams, writing, “One win in 2 years. Time for tournament directors to move on from Venus and give them to young players starting out in their careers. Venus should have retired 10 years ago.”
The next enthusiast wrote, “How come she always seems to get wildcards? Since she’s gotten it I hope she has a decent run, though I’d have preferred an up and coming player with potential getting the wildcard.”
Another fan highly appreciated Williams’ legacy and iconic career, during which she had clinched 49 WTA Tour singles titles, including seven Major titles, added, “Venus has earned these wildcards đź‘Ź A LIVING LEGEND.”
Venus has earned these wildcards đź‘Ź
A LIVING LEGEND.
— E J 🏀 (@EJayArrow) January 2, 2026
The next fan highlighted both the positive and negative, expressing, “To lose first round… I agree it’s “good” for the sport, but she’s done. Stop giving checks for a “close” match. Respect to her going at it at her age.”
To lose first round…
I agree it’s “good” for the sport, but she’s done. Stop giving checks for
a “close” match. Respect to her going at it at her age— Even Money Sniper (@evenmoneysniper) January 2, 2026
READ MORE: Venus Williams’ 2026 Debut Confirmed As American Set To Make Tennis Return After Marriage
Apart from her titles, Williams had won two of her five Olympic medals in Sydney, in the doubles and singles categories, both of which were gold medals. She last competed in the Australian Open in 2021, reaching the second round, where she was defeated by the Italian star Sara Errani.
