Venus Williams will make her comeback next month, with the 42-year-old accepting a wild card to play in the main draw at the Australian Open in Auckland WTA, it has been announced Wednesday.

Venus Williams will make her comeback next month, with the 42-year-old accepting a wild card to play in the main draw at the Australian Open in Auckland WTA, it has been announced Wednesday. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who last played on court at the US Open in September after playing doubles with her sister Serena, will be in Auckland ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on 16 January. This will mark Venus Williams' 22nd concert. at Melbourne Park, where he made her Australian Open debut 25 years ago and reached the final in 2003 and 2017. Her last appearance was a second round exit in 2021.

"I am very excited to be returning to Melbourne to participate in the Australian Open," Williams said in a statement. "I've been competing in (Australia) for over 20 years now and I'm looking forward to making more competitive memories this year."

Williams, the former world No. 1, has not recovered to play in recent years, with her international ranking falling to 1,007.

She will be warming up for Melbourne and Auckland, where she will be one of four Grand Slam champions on the court alongside former US Open champions Emma Raducanu and Sloane Stephens, and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

"I can't wait to play my first tournament this season in Auckland," said Williams, who won the tournament in 2015.

"The competition and the fans always make me happy and I'm happy to be a part of it in January."

The older Williams sister has won 49 titles in her career, including Wimbledon five times and the US Open twice.