"I’ll think about what’s next for me": Venus Williams focusing on Alexandrova doubles tandem after singles heartbreak with no further plans set

Venus Williams paid tribute to the Melbourne crowd and her own progress after a dramatic match at the 2026 Australian Open, describing an “amazing journey” on court as she continues her comeback on the sport’s biggest stage.

One of the defining moments of the contest came in a marathon 14-and-a-half-minute service game late in the match, a passage that Williams said was fuelled by the atmosphere inside the stadium.

“It was such a great game. It was such a great moment,” Williams said. “The energy from the crowd was amazing, and that lifted me up so much.”

She was quick to acknowledge both her opponent’s quality and the fine margins that often decide matches at the highest level. “She played a great game, and also there was some luck there as well,” Williams said. “That’s just sport. That’s how it works sometimes. But it was an amazing moment.”

Williams also reflected on a key phase earlier in the match when she surged into a four-love lead, a position that underlined the progress she feels she is making since returning to competition.

“At four-love, I felt good,” she said. “It’s the biggest lead I’ve had since I’ve been back. And in a lot of ways, I’m having to relearn how to do things again, if that makes any sense.”

Despite ultimately coming up short, the former world No.1 took significant encouragement from her performance, emphasising how each match is helping her rebuild rhythm and confidence.

“I’m really proud of my effort today,” Williams said. “I’m playing better with each match and getting to the places that I want to get to. Right now, I just have to keep going forward, working on myself and working to control my errors.”

She explained that many of the challenges she faces are simply a product of match play and repetition.

“Those are things that come with playing extra matches — getting your feet in the exact right position, choosing the right shots, and all of those things that I’m still learning,” she said. “It’s kind of weird, but it’s super exciting to have played that well, to get myself in that position and come very close.”

Williams’ Australian summer has included appearances in Auckland and Hobart before arriving in Melbourne, prompting questions about whether she plans to maintain a more regular singles schedule this season. For now, however, her focus remains firmly on the present.

“I think I’ll think about what’s next for me,” she said. “But I have the doubles here, so my focus is on that right now.”

Asked whether moments like these prompt thoughts about potentially playing her final Australian Open, Williams made it clear she is not looking that far ahead.

“Right now, I’m very much in the tournament,” she said. “My next focus is the doubles, so that’s where my head is.”

Williams is competing in doubles alongside Alexandrova, a partnership she is looking forward to after previously facing her across the net.

“I actually played against her at the US Open, and she was super impressive,” Williams said. “We played in, I think it was the third round, and she put up an amazing fight. So it’ll be nice this time to be on the same side of the court.”

As she left the court smiling broadly, Williams said that moment was one she wanted to share with the fans who had supported her throughout the match.

“I had to appreciate the crowd,” she said. “They were right there with me, so they deserve that moment, and we deserve that moment together. It was an amazing journey on the court today.”