{“title”:”Venus Defies Age at 44 in Epic Aussie Opener”,”body”:”At a Glance
– At 44, Venus Williams becomes the oldest woman ever to play Australian Open singles, breaking a nine-year record.
– Ranked No. 576, she pushed world No. 68 Olga Danilovic to the brink before falling 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.
– A 14-minute, 28-second service game at 4-4 in the decider electrified the crowd and nearly flipped the match.
Why it matters: Williams’ fearless performance proves elite tennis has no age limit and sets the stage for her doubles campaign-and the rest of her 2025 season.
Venus Williams walked onto Melbourne Park’s hardcourt as the oldest woman in Australian Open history and walked off 2 hours 17 minutes later having reminded the world why longevity still matters in tennis. The 44-year-old American, married last month to Andrea Preti and traveling with him this fortnight, surpassed Japan’s Kimiko Date’s 2015 mark the moment she struck her first serve. What followed was a roller-coaster first-round clash that left a raucous crowd on its feet and a legend smiling through defeat.
## Record Books Rewritten in Opening Game
Williams’ mere presence rewrote page one of the tournament media guide. At 17 she debuted here in 1998, reaching the quarterfinals; on Sunday she became the first woman to contest singles on the same stage across four different decades. Her 22nd Melbourne appearance extends a run that includes finals losses to sister Serena in 2003 and 2017.
## Match Flow: How a 4-0 Lead Evaporated
– First set: Danilovic edged ahead early, but Williams snatched the tie-break 7-6 (5) with clean net approaches.
– Second set: The Serb’s left-handed forehand found range, breaking twice to level at 6-3.
– Decider: Williams stormed to 4-0, dropping only five points, before Danilovic peeled off six straight games.
The pivotal moment arrived at 4-4. Williams’ service game stretched 14 minutes 28 seconds, featured two saved break points, three clutch aces and a series of vintage forehand winners, but ended with Danilovic converting her fourth break chance.
## Player Reactions
> “It was an amazing journey on the court today,” Williams said, waving to fans as she exited.
> “I told myself before the match I really want to take this moment – playing against Venus Williams is something I can’t take for granted,” Danilovic said. “At 4-0, I said ‘just play.’ It was such a pleasure playing against such a legend.”
Williams, who entered on a five-match losing streak since her lone comeback win in Washington last August, saw progress.
> “I’m really proud of my effort today because I’m playing better with each match … Right now I’m just going to have to keep going forward and working on myself and working to control my errors.”
## Road Ahead: Doubles and Beyond
The singles exit closes one door but opens another. Williams confirmed she will contest the doubles draw at Melbourne Park, keeping her “very much in the tournament.” After that, she will map out the remainder of her 2025 schedule.
### By the Numbers
| Stat | Venus Williams | Olga Danilovic |
|——|—————|—————|\| Age | 44 | 23 |
| Ranking | 576 | 68 |
| Aces | 8 | 5 |
| 1st-serve points won | 65% | 62% |
| Break points saved | 7 of 11 | 4 of 7 |
## Key Takeaways
1. Williams’ age-record performance adds a new chapter to a career that began before her opponent was born.
2. Despite the loss, the 4-0 surge in the third set shows she can still dominate passages of play against top-100 foes.
3. Her immediate focus shifts to doubles, where fresh legs and elite instincts could extend her Melbourne stay.
The match may have ended in a 6-4 third-set heart-breaker, but the message was clear: Venus Williams is not done challenging expectations-or opponents-whenever she steps on court.”,”meta_description”:”At 44, Venus Williams becomes the oldest woman to play Australian Open singles, pushing world No. 68 to three sets in a 14-minute thriller before falling.”,”categories”:[“Breaking News”,”World News”]}
