Lindsay Arkley

45-year-old Williams accepted a wildcard entry into the Australian Open, returning to the tournament after five years as the oldest player ever in the singles main draw.

Her first round match was against Olga Danilovich of Serbia, ranked 69th in the world and more than two decades younger.

Williams took the first set 7-6, but Danilovich fought back, taking the second set 6-3 and the decider 6-4.

Williams, who returned to tennis last season after a 16-month break, is still in the doubles draw at the Australian Open, paired with Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia.

For NPR News, I'm Lindsay Arkley in Melbourne.

45-year-old Williams accepted a wildcard entry into the Australian Open, returning to the tournament after five years as the oldest player ever in the singles main draw.

Her first round match was against Olga Danilovich of Serbia, ranked 69th in the world and more than two decades younger.

Williams took the first set 7-6, but Danilovich fought back, taking the second set 6-3 and the decider 6-4.

Williams, who returned to tennis last season after a 16-month break, is still in the doubles draw at the Australian Open, paired with Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia.

For NPR News, I'm Lindsay Arkley in Melbourne.

This year's Australian Open features 39 Americans, 21 in the men's draw and 18 in the women's, with Madison Keyes the defending women's champion.

The highest ranked US player in action on day one will be in the men's singles, when Francis Tiofo, the 29th seed, takes on a qualifier from Australia, Jason Kubler.

Later on day one, in the women's singles, 45-year-old Venus Williams plays 24-year-old Olga Danilovic of Serbia.

Williams, who was twice runner-up to her sister Serena at the Australian Open, received a wild-card entry to this year's tournament.

For NPR News, I'm Lindsay Arkley in Melbourne.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 17 families of the Bondi Beach victims called for a federal inquiry known as a Royal Commission to investigate a rise in anti-Semitism in Australia since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023.

They say the Royal Commission, the highest level of public investigation in Australia, should address alleged security agency failures.

So far, Albanese has resisted calls for a royal commission, saying a top-level review he's already commissioned should be adequate to address potential failings in procedures and laws that led to the shooting, which was allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group.

For NPR News, I'm Lindsay Arkley in Melbourne.