Venus Williams Sets Record at Australian Open, but Falls to Danilovic
MELBOURNE, Australia – Venus Williams, by merely being on the court for her first-round match at the Australian Open, etched her name in the tennis history books. Her participation was a testament to her incredible resilience and longevity in the sport’s elite.On Sunday, Williams, close to sealing her victory, was leading with two service breaks in the third set, with a score of 4-0. However, Olga Danilovic proved to be a formidable opponent, managing to come back from behind to win six consecutive games and defeat the 45-year-old veteran, winner of seven Grand Slam titles, with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.
Williams fought hard in the penultimate game, serving for 14 and a half minutes, determined to stay in the match before finally succumbing to a third break point. With 45 years old and ranked 576th, Williams, who received a wildcard, became the oldest player to compete in singles at the Australian Open. Williams came to the tournament with a streak of five consecutive losses since her only victory in her return to the circuit in Washington last year. She managed to win the first set and dominated the third until Danilovic stepped up her game at the John Cain Arena. Venus Williams married the Italian Andrea Preti in December. She debuted at the Australian Open in 1998, at the age of 17, and reached the quarterfinals in her fourth Grand Slam event. Although she has never won the Australian Open, she reached the final in 2003 and 2017, losing both times to her sister, Serena.
