Venus Williams, 45, to open 33rd straight professional season at Auckland Classic | Venus Williams

Tennis great Venus Williams plans to play for a 33rd straight season on the WTA Tour, starting in Auckland in January.

Organizers of the ASB Classic in New Zealand said Wednesday that the 45-year-old Williams would feature at their 5-11 January event.

It suggests the seven-time grand slam singles champion is preparing for the Australian Open later that month, a tournament she has twice lost in the final.

“She is one of the great players in the modern era and her performances on the court speak for themselves,†said tournament director Nicolas Lamperin, who added that she was in “remarkable shape and formâ€.

“Off the court she has made an equally significant contribution to the game and to the development of female players worldwide,†he said.

“Venus has had a profound influence on the evolution of womenâ€s tennis and has inspired the next generation with her unshakeable passion for the sport.â€

Williams made her pro tournament debut in 1994 in Oakland, California and has played at least two WTA events in each season since, the tour said.

She last played in singles at the US Open in August, losing in three sets to 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova in the first round.

Ranked No 570, Williams is five years older than the next oldest ranked players, Naoko Eto and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Japanâ€s Naomi Osaka, a four-time major champion, is also confirmed for the Auckland field. The Australian Open begins on 18 January in Melbourne.

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