Venus Williams’ return to the Australian Open didn’t go as planned.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who had been handed a wildcard into the event, was knocked out in the first round by Olga Danilovic.

After splitting the first two sets 7-6, 3-6, Venus took control early in the third, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and looking poised to advance.

But things quickly unravelled from there. Danilovic rattled off six straight games to close out the match and send Venus packing in her opening round appearance.

It was a similar story in doubles. Venus teamed up with Ekaterina Alexandrova but they fell short against Elsa Jacquemot and Emiliana Arango, losing in straight sets.

Now 45 years old, Venus will be looking to turn things around at her next tournament. Her schedule has already been set for what comes after Melbourne.

Venus Williams awarded wildcard for ATX Open

“Venus Williams is coming to the ATX Open later this month — and we are beyond excited to welcome one of the greatest champions in women’s tennis to Austin,” an ATX Open spokesperson posted on Instagram.

“7-time Grand Slam singles champion, 49 WTA singles titles, 4-time Olympic gold medalist. A global icon. A trailblazer. A legend. Austin, get ready!”

The ATX Open is Texas’ only women’s tour-level event, running from February 27 to March 5. Jessica Pegula won the tournament last year and is back to defend her title in 2026.

Pegula isn’t the only familiar face returning this year. McCartney Kessler, who reached last year’s final, is back as well. Francesca Jones, Eva Lys and Alja Tomljanovic are also among those competing.

This will be the fourth edition of the ATX Open since it began in 2023. Marta Kostyuk was the first winner, followed by Yue Yuan in 2024.

Fan response to Venus Williams’ ATX Open wildcard

Fans quickly took to Instagram to share their excitement, with one even comparing the event to a Beyonce concert.

One fan wrote: “Anyone selling tickets? This feels like a Beyonce concert to me now.”

“All single tickets have been sold out. I’m so upset. I was there the entire weekend last year. Will miss this year. Devastated,” added another fan.

A third commented: “So unbelievably excited! Let’s go ATX OPEN!”

Venus’ involvement is likely to give the tournament a boost in both visibility and popularity, given her status as one of the sport’s most recognisable figures.

The decision to give her a wildcard looks like a smart move for the ATX Open, and it might be something other WTA events consider following suit.

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