She never stops. Venus Williams, 45, returns to the circuit with a wild card and a top-choice partner for doubles in Auckland, in the person of Elina Svitolina.
Three were dreaming of Auckland, but only one held strong. Between rebirth and disappointments, the New Zealand qualifiers delivered their share of emotions.
The first WTA tournament of 2026 starts strong: in Auckland, Varvara Gracheva draws Elina Svitolina, the number 1 seed, right away. Meanwhile, Venus Williams, 45, is preparing for her big comeback outside the United States.