Camille Naredo

Venus Williams serves to Peyton Stearns (not pictured) during a women's single match on day 2 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 22, 2025 in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 22: Venus Williams serves to Peyton Stearns (not pictured) during a women's single match on day 2 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 22, 2025 in Washington, DC.   Scott Taetsch/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Scott Taetsch / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 - Day 2

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767511254675AFP__20250723__2226570316__v1__MidRes__MubadalaCitiDcOpen2025Day2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Venus Williams serves to Peyton Stearns (not pictured) during a women&#x27;s single match on day 2 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Scott Taetsch, Getty Images/AFP/File" width="960"/>Venus Williams serves to Peyton Stearns (not pictured) during a women&#x27;s single match on day 2 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Scott Taetsch, Getty Images/AFP/File</div>AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams said Sunday she&#x27;s still driven to play good tennis - and &quot;it gives you great legs&quot; - as she prepares for an Australian Open tilt at age 45.Williams will become the oldest woman to play in the main draw at the season-opening Grand Slam after accepting a wildcard, five years after she last competed in Melbourne.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/1/2/tennis-venus-williams-gets-australian-open-wildcard-aged-45-1059">READ: Venus Williams gets Australian Open wildcard aged 45</a></div>The American said she was unaware of the record she was poised to break, adding she didn&#x27;t have the same intense approach to achieving milestones as in her prime.However, her drive to succeed on court remained.&quot;I think one of my goals is to be joyful and just embrace being uncomfortable because that&#x27;s the things champions can do,&quot; she said.&quot;I definitely don&#x27;t wake up and come halfway across the world -- or more than halfway -- to not be feeling the fire.&quot;And, well, tennis burns a lot of calories. It gives you great legs. I figure if I want to stay fit, I&#x27;ve got to keep playing.&quot;A five-time Wimbledon champion, Williams was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017 and won the doubles title four times alongside sister Serena.Williams&#x27; last tournament was the US Open in August, not long after returning from a 16-month break.She will play warmup events in Auckland next week and Hobart ahead of the January 18-February 1 Australian Open and hopes she can shake rust out of her system.&quot;It&#x27;s interesting because I have so much experience, but I&#x27;ve probably played the least amount as any other player in this draw,&quot; Williams told reporters in Auckland.&quot;So I have a lot to pull out but I also have to come out of the gates playing quickly.&quot;The good news is that, you know, tennis matches are long and you have a chance to figure things out.&quot;Her first opponent in Auckland on Monday will be Polish fifth seed and world No.54 Magda Linette.

Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams said Sunday she's still driven to play good tennis - and "it gives you great legs" - as she prepares for an Australian Open tilt at age 45.

Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams said Sunday she's still driven to play good tennis - and "it gives you great legs" - as she prepares for an Australian Open tilt at age 45.

Venus Williams still 'feeling the fire' ahead of Australian Open record

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Venus Williams still 'feeling the fire' ahead of Australian Open record

Agence France-Presse

Published Jan 04, 2026 03:23 PM PHT

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