Through its communication channels, The Australian Open announces that it has granted a wild card to 7-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, who will therefore appear in the main draw of the tournament. 25 years after her first appearance, therefore, Venus will continue to tread the hard-courts of the Australian event, the first important stage of the new tennis season.
Australian Open CEO Craig Tiley said: “Venus is not only an incredible player and a fan favorite, but she is also a great role model and a leader of our sport in so many ways. We are delighted to welcome her back to the AO in January.”
Venus Williams, in a statement, explained: “I am very happy to return to Melbourne to play the Australian Open in January. I have been competing in this country for over 20 years and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly. It will be a honor to play for the fans again and I look forward to making more memories at this year’s tournament.”
Venus Williams shared her favorite memory with Serena Williams
Venus Williams revealed her favorite memory of her with Serena Williams during an interactive session with her fans. When asked what her favorite memory of her with Serena was, Venus replied that her favorite memories of her with her younger sister were all times they shared a laugh. She said: “All the times we laughed together!”
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion was also asked if she plans to play a full schedule in 2023. She replied: “I’ve never played as many tournaments as most players, but I’ll make some appearances. Stay tuned.”
Venus Williams was also asked if she kept any of her outfits from her previous matches, including any that dated back to the early 2000s. Venus said:”Yeah sure! They were epic! I keep most of my clothes.”