Did Venus Williams and Ekaterina Alexandrova Exit the Women's Doubles at the 2026 Australian Open?
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Synopsis
In a surprising turn of events at the 2026 Australian Open, tennis legends Venus Williams and Ekaterina Alexandrova faced an unexpected exit in the women's doubles. Discover the details of their match and Venus's remarkable journey back to the court after a long hiatus.
Key Takeaways
- Venus Williams and Ekaterina Alexandrova lost in the first round of women's doubles.
- This was Venus's first Australian Open appearance since 2021.
- Venus holds 23 Grand Slam titles in total.
- She is the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw.
- Venus's journey back to tennis is inspiring after a long hiatus.
Melbourne, Jan 20 (NationPress) The iconic Venus Williams from the USA and Ekaterina Alexandrova from Russia faced disappointment in the opening round of the women’s doubles at the 2026 Australian Open. The American-Russian pair was defeated 6-3 (3), 6-4 by the French player Elsa Jacquemot and Emiliana Arango from Colombia on Tuesday.
This defeat marked the end of Venus' journey at Melbourne Park, following her emotional first-round exit in singles against Olga Danilovic. This was her first time competing at Melbourne Park since 2021 and her first tournament outside the United States since 2023.
As a seven-time Grand Slam champion, Williams received a wildcard entry and made history as the oldest woman to participate in an Australian Open main draw, breaking the previous record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 during the 2015 event.
Throughout her career, Williams has made two finals at the Australian Open, reached the semifinals in 2001, and has advanced to six quarterfinals, boasting a tournament record of 54-21. She is a four-time champion in women’s doubles at Melbourne, winning titles in 2001, 2003, 2009, and 2010 alongside her sister, Serena Williams, and claimed the mixed doubles title with Justin Gimelstob in 1998.
After a break of 16 months, Venus returned to the tennis circuit in July 2025, participating in three tournaments. She secured a victory against fellow American Peyton Stearns with a score of 6-3, 6-4 in the first round at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, but subsequently lost to Magdalena Frech.
In August, she faced defeat against Spain's Jessica Bouzas-Maneiro with scores of 4-6, 4-6 in the Cincinnati first round and took 11th seed Karolina Muchova to three sets in the US Open's first round, becoming the second-oldest wildcard recipient in Grand Slam history. In doubles, partnering with Leylah Fernandez, she reached the quarter-finals before succumbing to eventual finalists Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend.
Overall, Venus boasts an impressive tally of 23 Grand Slam titles across both singles and doubles.
Point of View
I recognize the emotional weight of Venus Williams' recent journey. While her exit from the 2026 Australian Open may be disheartening for fans, it also highlights her resilience and commitment to the sport. Venus continues to inspire the next generation of players, proving that age is merely a number in the pursuit of excellence.
NationPress
20/01/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score of Venus Williams' latest match?
Venus Williams and Ekaterina Alexandrova lost their match 6-3 (3), 6-4.
How many Grand Slam titles does Venus Williams have?
Venus Williams has a total of 23 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles.
When did Venus Williams last compete in the Australian Open?
This was Venus Williams' first appearance at the Australian Open since 2021.
Who did Venus Williams lose to in singles?
Venus lost to Olga Danilovic in the first round of women's singles.
What record did Venus Williams break at the Australian Open?
Venus became the oldest woman to compete in the Australian Open main draw.
