Danilović denies Venus Williams in emotional Melbourne thriller after improbable final-set comeback
Olga Danilovic edged out Venus Williams 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday night. Venus is officialy the oldest woman ever to compete in the Australian Open main draw
Olga Danilovic, Australian Open, 2025 © Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP/SIPA
In a match that pitted the sport’s legendary past against its gritty present, Olga Danilović edged out 45-year-old wildcard Venus Williams 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday night.
The world No. 67 appeared to be heading for a heart-wrenching exit when she trailed by two breaks in the final set, but she authored a stunning turnaround by winning six consecutive games to secure her place in the second round.
As the match crossed the two-and-a-half-hour mark, Danilović’s physical conditioning proved decisive; she found a second gear of consistency, hardly missing a ball as she wore down the seven-time Grand Slam champion in the cool Melbourne night.
The defeat concludes a historic week for Venus Williams, who set a new record as the oldest woman ever to compete in the Australian Open main draw. Returning to Melbourne Park 28 years after her 1998 debut, Williams remains a statistical marvel; of the other 127 players in the 2026 singles draw, a staggering 112 were not yet born when she played her first professional match.
Flashes of Venus
Despite her ranking of No. 576, Williams showed flashes of her iconic grass-court power in the opening set tiebreak, but she ultimately could not stave off the relentless pressure from the 24-year-old Serb.
Danilović, reaching the second round in Melbourne for the third time in her career, now faces a monumental task in the round of 64. She awaits the winner of the blockbuster clash between the 3rd seed Coco Gauff and Kamilla Rakhimova.
