Tennis legend Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard to compete in the Auckland Classic this coming January.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, now 45, returned to the court in July after a 16-month break from competition. Her comeback was marked by a win against fellow American Peyton Stearns—then ranked 35th in the world—at the Washington Open, making Williams the second-oldest woman ever to win a WTA Tour-level singles match.

She later received a wildcard for the US Open, where she delivered an impressive performance in a tightly contested three-set loss to Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the opening round.

Tournament director Nicolas Lamperin praised Williams’ enduring impact on the sport, stating:
“Venus has played a pivotal role in shaping women’s tennis and continues to inspire future generations with her unwavering dedication. This is a special opportunity for fans to witness one of the sport’s true icons in action.”

Williams will return to the Auckland Classic—a tournament she previously won in 2015—for the first time since 2023. The event runs from 5–11 January and serves as a lead-up to the 2026 Australian Open, which begins on 18 January.