Venus Williams becomes oldest Australian Open singles competitor at 45 but loses after leading

Venus Williams became the oldest player to compete in Australian Open singles at 45 and lost her first-round match to Olga Danilovic after leading 4-0 in the final set; Williams will continue in the doubles draw.

Venus Williams set a tournament record by starting her first-round singles match at the Australian Open, becoming the oldest singles competitor at 45. She was given a standing ovation as she entered John Cain Arena and faced Olga Danilovic in a match that swung in momentum. Williams won the opening set and took a 4-0 lead in the third set, up two service breaks, before her opponent rallied. Williams entered the event on a wildcard, is ranked No 576, and will continue her campaign in the doubles competition. Match details: - Scoreline: Olga Danilovic defeated Venus Williams 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. - Danilovic won six consecutive games in the third set to overturn a 0-4 deficit. - Williams served for just under 15 minutes in the penultimate game before losing on a third break point. - Williams is 45 years old, entered the singles draw via wildcard and is ranked No 576. - Williams first played the Australian Open in 1998, reached singles finals in 2003 and 2017, and has won five doubles titles in Melbourne. - Danilovic said she felt nerves at 0-4 and played point by point, and described it as a pleasure to play against Williams. Summary: The match underscored Williams's longevity at Grand Slam events and a near-comeback in a tightly contested first round. Williams will continue in the doubles draw while Danilovic advances in the singles competition.