Williams, 45, Given Wildcard For Auckland Classic

Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard for nan Auckland Classic successful January.

The 45-year-old, who has won 7 Grand Slam singles titles, made her comeback successful July aft 16 months without competing.

She defeated chap American Peyton Stearns, past classed 35th successful nan world, connected her return astatine nan Washington Open to go nan second-oldest female to triumph a WTA Tour-level singles match.

A period later, she was fixed a wildcard into nan main tie of nan US Open and impressed successful her three-set loss to Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova successful nan first round.

Nicolas Lamperin, tourney head of nan Auckland Classic, said: "Venus has had a profound power connected nan improvement of women's tennis and has inspired nan adjacent procreation pinch her unshakeable passion for nan sport.

"All sports fans should return this opportunity to watch 1 of nan sport's all-time greats successful action."

Williams is group to play astatine nan Auckland Classic, a tourney she won successful 2015, for nan first clip since 2023.

It takes spot from 5-11 January and precedes nan Australian Open, nan first Grand Slam of 2026, which is scheduled to commencement connected 18 January.