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6h ago

Venus Williams, 45, Awarded Wildcard for Auckland Classic in January

The ASB Classic berth serves as her Australian Open tune-up after a 16-month layoff.

Sep 2, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Venus Williams of the United States and Leylah Fernandez of Canada in action against Taylor Townsend of the United States and Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic in the quarterfinal of the women's doubles at the US Open at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Overview

  • Organisers confirmed the wildcard for the Jan. 5–11 ASB Classic in Auckland on Wednesday.
  • Tournament director Nicolas Lamperin said Williams is in “remarkable shape” and praised her long-standing influence on women’s tennis.
  • After roughly 16 months out, Williams returned in mid-2025, defeating then world No. 35 Peyton Stearns in Washington and taking Karolina Muchova to three sets at the US Open.
  • The seven-time Grand Slam champion won Auckland in 2015, and this will mark her seventh appearance at the event.
  • Naomi Osaka is also confirmed for the field; the Australian Open starts Jan. 18 and Williams’s status for Melbourne has not been announced.