MELBOURNE, Australia — Venus Williams came remarkably close to making history again at the Australian Open. On Sunday night, the seven-time Grand Slam champion was just two games away from becoming the oldest woman to win a match at the tournament when she held a lead against Serbia’s Olga Danilović at 7-6(5), 3-6, 4-0.
In a gripping three-set match that lasted over two hours, Danilović rallied back, stunningly winning six consecutive games to snatch the victory away from the 45-year-old Williams, who hoped to add another chapter to her inspiring comeback story.
“It was such an amazing atmosphere,” said Danilović, 24, after defeating one of tennis’s legendary figures.
The match began with Williams showing her unmatched experience, narrowly securing the first set after fending off a comeback attempt by Danilović in a tight tiebreak. However, as the second set unfolded, it seemed as though the physical toll of the first set may have taken its toll on Williams.
The final set was a rollercoaster ride, with Williams initially surging to a 4-0 lead, leaving spectators hopeful for her to clinch a victory over someone 21 years her junior. However, Danilović quickly turned the tide, mounting an impressive comeback that brought the score to 4-4. A pivotal moment came on a break point for Williams, where she unleashed one of her signature unreturnable serves to keep her in the match, pleasing the 10,000-strong crowd at John Cain Arena.
Having played her first Australian Open match three years before Danilović was born, Williams has an incredible record of nearly 1,100 matches played and over 800 wins – a testament to her extensive experience in the sport. Despite this, dealing with the relentless pace of Danilović proved challenging, as her opponent consistently returned the ball, forcing Williams to keep pushing for winners. In a heartbreaking moment on match point, a ball grazed the top of the net and veered into the doubles alley, sealing the match for Danilović.
“Playing against Venus Williams is not something I can take for granted,” said Danilović. “At 4-0 I said, ‘Just play.’”
For Williams, the outcome is undoubtedly disappointing, as she is far from just a participant in tennis majors. Yet, she continues to prove the skeptics wrong who question her wild card entries, demonstrating that she still has much to offer on the court. Her journey, which began at last summer’s D.C. Open with a victory over then world No. 35 Peyton Stearns, suggests that her return to competitive tennis has the potential for many more exciting moments ahead.