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The tennis world refuses to accept the retirement of the Williams sisters, so a wild card for the Australia Open will see the return of Venus Williams. The 7-time Grand Slam winner will try to make a big impression on the Australian fans, who first noticed the absence of the Williams sisters at the previous edition of the Australia Open.
Australia Open, a Grand Slam Venus Williams has never won
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Venus Williams has confirmed that she has accepted an invitation to participate in the tournament, which starts in a month. This event is one of the two Grand Slams that Venus has never won, so against all odds, she will make one last attempt.
The best results Venus had in Australia were in the 2003 and 2017 finals, and it was ironic that 14 years apart in a tournament, the elder Williams lost to the same opponent, her sister Serena. In the doubles tournaments, both sisters swept the doubles titles with 4 victories at the Australia Open, the other title Venus won in this tournament was with Justin Gimelstob in double mixed.
Venus Williams to travel to New Zealand
Before traveling to Melbourne, the American will have action in Auckland, this WTA tournament will be part of her preparation. This competition will feature some of the top-ranked players in the WTA rankings. Cori Gauff, Leylah Fernandez, Karolina Muchova, and even 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu will be part of this event.
The American already knows what it’s like to win in Auckland, as in 2015 she defeated Caroline Wozniacki in three sets. A year earlier, she also reached the final in Auckland but lost to Ana Ivanovic 2-1.
Williams Sisters’ Retreat
The 42-year-old’s last appearance was at the US Open in doubles, where she paired up with her sister Serena Williams. After losing in the first rounds and not participating in subsequent tournaments, Venus Williams is now number 1007 in the WTA ranking, a weird place for one of the WTA legends.
The US Open was supposed to be the last tournament for both Serena and Venus, but the latter took advantage of the wild card to once again take part in one of the best tournaments in tennis.
Will Serena Williams also return?
At the moment, the younger Williams remains in retirement, and there is no sign of a return to the courts. However, her sister’s return will surely generate interest in Serena, maybe they both can join in coming events.
Unlike Venus, whose retirement was in the US Open doubles tournament, Serena’s retirement came in the singles against Ajla Tomljanovic. It is likely that in the future Serena Williams will receive a wild card into a major tournament, but whether she returns will depend on her physical and emotional state.
What are Venus Williams’ chances of winning?
According to the forecasts, she is expected to get through the early rounds, but her lack of rhythm and physical condition may affect her performance in advanced phases. Venus’s best weapon will be her technique, skill, and experience; as long as she wins the first two sets she will have a good chance, but if she extends into the third she may not be able to hold her physician.
One important factor is that she is motivated and wants to have a good tournament, so she will test herself in Auckland before heading to Melbourne. Venus Williams exposed “I am very excited to be returning to Melbourne to compete at the Australian Open in January”. The 2023 season will start with the return of one of the legends of tennis, which is a plus for the training of the fans.
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