Venus Williams, 45, set a record as the oldest player to compete in singles at the Australian Open but ultimately lost her first-round match to Olga Danilovic after leading 4-0 in the third set.
Tennis icon Venus Williams, at 45 years old, made history by becoming the oldest player to compete in singles at the Australian Open, showcasing her incredible endurance and longevity. Despite this significant milestone, her first-round match against Olga Danilovic ended in a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 defeat. Williams, ranked No. 576 and participating via a wild-card entry, was agonizingly close to victory, holding a commanding 4-0 lead in the third set. However, Danilovic mounted an impressive comeback, winning six straight games to clinch the match. Williams, who served for 14 1/2 minutes in a determined effort to stay in the match, eventually succumbed to a third break point. This loss extends her recent five-match losing streak. Williams, who married Andrea Preti in December, first played the Australian Open in 1998 and has reached the finals twice (2003, 2017), losing both times to her sister, Serena, but has never won the tournament.
