(Auckland) American Venus Williams explained on Sunday that she still has “the flame” as she will become, at 45, the oldest player to play in the Australian Open (January 18-1^er FEBRUARY).

“I certainly don’t get up to cross half the globe, or even more, without feeling this flame that animates me,” declared the winner of seven Grand Slam singles tournaments, who is beginning her preparation for the Auckland tournament in New Zealand.

Five years after her last appearance at the Australian Open, the eldest Williams sister received an invitation from organizers for the 2026 edition, where she will become the oldest woman to compete in the main draw.

The American said she was unaware of the record she was about to break, adding that she no longer had such an intense approach and preparation to achieve important goals as at the peak of her career.

“I think one of my goals is to be joyful while being okay with being less comfortable, because that’s what champions know how to do,” she said.

“And then, tennis burns a lot of calories. It allows you to have beautiful legs. I tell myself that if I want to stay in shape, I have to continue playing,” the player laughed.

Crowned five times at Wimbledon and twice at the US Open, Williams was a finalist at the Australian Open in 2003 and 2017 and has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including four in Melbourne alongside her sister Serena.

Absent from the circuit for almost a year and a half, she made her return to the courts in July at the Washington tournaments (defeat on 2^e round) and Cincinnati (1^er round) before participating in the US Open at the end of August, where she also lost in the first round. She hasn’t played again since these four little matches.

After Auckland, the American will continue with the Hobart tournament, before the Australian Open.