Venus Williams will return to the Australian Open for the first time in five years after receiving a wildcard into the main draw. Aged 45, the former world No.1 made her comeback last summer in the United States, and she’s now heading Down Under just days after marrying actor and model, Andrea Preti.

Australian Open organisers announced the news on Thursday. “She’s BACK. 7x Grand Slam champion, @Venuseswilliams,” they wrote on social media, confirming the elder Williams sister had been granted a wildcard.

Williams will become the oldest woman to compete in the main draw of the Australian Open. The current world No. 581 has not competed in Melbourne Park since 2021, when she reached the second round and then lost to Sara Errani. Williams is a two-time Aussie Open finalist, finishing runner-up in 2003 and 2017.

And the seven-time Major winner is keen to get plenty of matches in before the first Grand Slam tournament of the season. Williams had already received a wildcard into next week’s ASB Classic in Auckland, and will now also compete in the Hobart International the following week. These are her first tournaments outside of America since 2023.

The news of Williams’ Australian Open participation comes days after she tied the knot with Preti during a five-day wedding celebration in Florida just before Christmas. The couple enjoyed their first ceremony in Italy back in September, but legally wed in Palm Beach late last month.

The almost-week-long celebration included a bridal shower in Williams’ home, a dance battle, and a sports day. Williams told Vogue: “We started on Monday. Serena gave us this gift of a beautiful yacht, and she arranged all the food, everything.

“We had 10 to 12 of our closest family and friends who were in town on the boat, and we were singing, dancing, gossiping, and just enjoying each other.”

Williams has already turned her attention back to tennis. The former world No. 1 returned from a 16-month hiatus at the Washington Open last July and won a match in singles and doubles before going out.

She also competed in the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. In Flushing Meadows, Williams pushed No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova to three sets, but bowed out in round one. She also teamed up with Leylah Fernandez in women’s doubles, reaching the quarter-finals.

Williams has not played a match since, but faced Madison Keys in an exhibition in Charlotte last month and lost. She will be back in action in New Zealand next week before heading to Hobart and then back to Melbourne Park.