At 45 and ranked No.576, American tennis icon Venus Williams made history by becoming the oldest player to compete in singles at the Australian Open, surpassing Kimiko Date's record set in 2015. Her impressive display of endurance and longevity was on full display as she took on qualifier Olga Danilovic, but ultimately fell short.
Williams started strong, winning the first set and taking a two-set lead. But Danilovic staged an incredible comeback, rallying to win six straight games and claiming the match 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. Despite trailing by one break in the third set, Williams had Williams served for just shy of 15 minutes before finally succumbing to a third break point.
The American's coach described her performance as "super exciting" and praised her ability to adapt to the demands of competing at the highest level. However, it was clear that this victory came at a cost - Williams' energy levels appeared to be waning, and she struggled with errors throughout the match.
When asked about her experience playing in front of the crowd for the first time in years, Williams said she felt "amazing" on the court, but acknowledged that it can take time to adjust to competing after a long break. The 45-year-old will continue to compete in doubles and looks forward to continuing her journey.
Meanwhile, other American players fared better at the tournament. Frances Tiafoe overpowered Jason Kubler 7-6, 6-3, 6-2, while Michael Zheng secured an upset win over Sebastian Korda. In an all-American contest on Court 13, Hailey Baptiste edged Taylor Townsend 6-3, 6-7, 6-3.
Despite the disappointing result, Williams' record-breaking performance will be remembered for years to come, and serves as a testament to her enduring passion for tennis.
Williams started strong, winning the first set and taking a two-set lead. But Danilovic staged an incredible comeback, rallying to win six straight games and claiming the match 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. Despite trailing by one break in the third set, Williams had Williams served for just shy of 15 minutes before finally succumbing to a third break point.
The American's coach described her performance as "super exciting" and praised her ability to adapt to the demands of competing at the highest level. However, it was clear that this victory came at a cost - Williams' energy levels appeared to be waning, and she struggled with errors throughout the match.
When asked about her experience playing in front of the crowd for the first time in years, Williams said she felt "amazing" on the court, but acknowledged that it can take time to adjust to competing after a long break. The 45-year-old will continue to compete in doubles and looks forward to continuing her journey.
Meanwhile, other American players fared better at the tournament. Frances Tiafoe overpowered Jason Kubler 7-6, 6-3, 6-2, while Michael Zheng secured an upset win over Sebastian Korda. In an all-American contest on Court 13, Hailey Baptiste edged Taylor Townsend 6-3, 6-7, 6-3.
Despite the disappointing result, Williams' record-breaking performance will be remembered for years to come, and serves as a testament to her enduring passion for tennis.
I think Venus Williams' performance at the Aussie Open was inspiring, not just because she broke a record, but because she showed us all that age is just a number. She might not have won that match, but she gave it her all and we're all better off for watching her play. It's like life, you know? We can't always control the outcome, but what matters is how far we've come and how much we're willing to learn from our experiences. So even though this one didn't go in her favor, I think she's still a winner! 
. I mean, Venus Williams just so happens to break some kinda record at 45, but what about all the other American players who are doin' great out here? Frances Tiafoe and Michael Zheng, they're killin' it on court, but where's the love for them? It's like they're invisible 
. And don't even get me started on the energy levels of that coach - "super exciting"? Come on, somethin' fishy is goin' on here... 
. I mean she was so strong at first but then Olga Danilovic came back and took it from her. I feel bad for her, she seemed really tired after a while 
. But it’s also amazing that she still had the energy to play at such a high level, you know? I don’t think anyone can compete with her spirit 
. It just goes to show that age is just a number and she’s still got it 
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- Nelson Mandela 
at least she gave it her all, that's what matters right? gotta respect the vet for playing in front of a crowd again after all these years...but yeah, energy levels were pretty low towards the end. still, 45 and competing in singles is no joke! 
olga danilovic was on fire tho 
SHE'S STILL GOT IT GOING ON EVEN AT 45 YEARS OLD!!! 
I MEAN, WHO ELSE CAN SAY THEY'VE BEEN TO THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE AND THEN COME BACK YEARS LATER TO MAKE HISTORY AGAIN?! 
THE YOUNG LADY JUST WON'T GO AWAY!!! 
she's still got it 
. It's amazing what she's accomplished considering all the injuries and setbacks she's faced over the years. She's truly a legend of the sport 
. Her dedication to fitness and adapting her strategy must be paying off 
. I'm glad she's going to continue competing in doubles, that way we can still see more of her greatness on the court 
!
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. Exciting?! The girl was struggling to hit her shots and looked exhausted after every point! Maybe exciting for the coach, but not exactly thrilling for the rest of us who are just trying to watch a good match without all the drama 
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. No kidding! It takes years to adjust, not just one tournament! 
I swear it's like they're trying to torture us with endless ads & poor video quality... anyway back to Venus Williams, what a legend! She's still got some tricks up her sleeve at 45 
. It was epic to see her take on Olga Danilovic and give it her all. The comeback story though was pretty wild - I felt my heart sink when she struggled with errors towards the end... guess that's what happens when you're playing at a level far beyond most 45-year-olds