Venus Williams made history at 45, becoming the oldest woman to play singles at the Australian Open. She accepted a wildcard into the main draw, surpassing Kimiko Date's record. Despite taking a 4-0 lead in the deciding set, Williams fell to Olga Danilovic in a three-set first-round loss.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion called it a 'great moment' despite the defeat. She hadn't played a Grand Slam match since Wimbledon 2021. Her return to the tour this year includes wildcards at the US Open and now Melbourne, where she's lost both in deciding sets after competitive performances.

Williams will now compete in the women's doubles with Ekaterina Alexandrova. Former champion Pat Cash believes she deserves Wimbledon wildcards if her form warrants it, noting she's 'short on match play' but still shows she can compete at 45. Her commitment to playing more tournaments remains a positive sign.