- Venus Williams, 42, has been given a wildcard to play in the Australian Open
- She is currently world No. 1,007
- Many speculate that she could be headed for retirement like her sister Serena Williams
Venus Williams, 42, has been given a wildcard to play in the Australian Open in January 2023.
After making her tournament debut 25 years prior, the American will return to Melbourne for the event’s start on January 16.
In 13 events last season, Williams only won three matches, but she hasn’t yet indicated that she’d like to retire like her sister Serena Williams.
Despite being a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, she lost in the Australian Open final in 2003 and 2017.
She said that it was exciting going back to Australia, and she has an opportunity to please her fans once more. The elder Williams’ previously won five Australian Open doubles titles here.
“I am very excited to be returning to Melbourne. It will be an honour to play for the fans again,” BBC quotes her.
Australia makes her feel at home because of the unconditional love and support she got over the years while playing in Melbourne.
“I’ve been competing in the country for over 20 years now, and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly. I’m looking forward to making more memories at the tournament this year,” she added.
Venus Williams. Photo by People
VENUS WILLIAMS TENNIS 2022
Williams has participated in just four tournaments in 2022. She is rated 1,007th in the world. Her most recent competitive singles match was a first-round loss at the US Open in August.
Her performance at Wimbledon, where only three women have won the women’s singles title made her an indomitable tennis player. Williams, meanwhile, has had a challenging few years.
Since 2017, Venus Williams experienced a career resurgence by reaching the finals of the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. However, she failed to advance past the third round of a Grand Slam. Since 2018, she has failed to go past the second round.
Williams had a terrible year in 2020 as she lost in the first round of each of the three Grand Slam competitions that year. She fell to her lowest position in the rankings in ten years in May 2021 when she dropped out of the top 100.
Then, in 2022, she performed no better in the first round of the US Open with Alison Van Uytvanck defeating her in straight sets. The 42-year-old has won the US Open twice, in 2000 and 2001; nonetheless, this was her first Grand Slam match of 2022.
Williams hadn’t played competitive tennis since August 2021 before Wimbledon 2022. She competed in the mixed doubles event alongside Jamie Murray of Great Britain.
DID VENUS WILLIAMS SUFFER INJURY?
Williams never stepped on a tennis court for a match from August 2021 to early 2022 due to a leg injury. This raised concerns about her future in the sport.
Although the 42-year-old broke the record by competing in her 90th Grand Slam match at Wimbledon last year, she has long battled a number of bothersome injuries, leading many to question her fitness.
In 2021 alone, she sustained knee and ankle injuries, one in February and the other in July, which sent her off the court for over six months. She attempted to come back in 2022 but suffered a resounding defeat from her competitors.
WHAT IS A WILDCARD HANDED TO VENUS WILLIAMS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?
Venus Williams. Photo/The Conversation
A wild card is more of a ‘special entry ticket’ for tennis players below the qualifications needed to play at a specific tournament. The world No. 1,007 is a perfect example.
IN TENNIS, HOW DO YOU GET A WILD CARD?
A tennis player can request and win a wild card if they need to attend a tournament quickly. For instance, a player with a rating of 200 might not be allowed to participate in the ATP and WTA Grand Slam competitions.
They won’t be accepted right away. But one way around this is to get a wild card for direct admittance.
A WILD CARD IN TENNIS IS
In tennis, what does a wild card mean? Who provides it? These are major questions people always ask. Well, the final decision is nearly always the responsibility of the tournament director.
The distribution of wild cards varies depending on the event, but there have been some clear patterns in recent years. Grand Slam competitions will award about eight wildcards. The average number of prizes granted is approximately three when the field is less than the Masters 1000 level.
In almost every competition, home players are strongly preferred. They won’t have to travel more than halfway across the nation to compete, which will help them attract more attention.
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