Coco Gauff and Venus Williams could be headed toward another meeting on one of tennis’ biggest stages after the Australian Open draw placed them on the same side of the bracket. The possibility comes years after a teenage Gauff stunned Williams at Wimbledon, a moment that launched one of the sport’s fastest-rising careers.

The tournament begins Sunday at Melbourne Park, where Gauff enters as the No. 3 seed and a two-time Grand Slam champion. Williams, now 45, returns to the Australian Open for the first time in five years after receiving a wild-card entry, adding intrigue to the early rounds of the season’s first major.

Gauff’s rise from prodigy to contender

Gauff’s professional journey has been closely tied to Williams, whom she credited as a major inspiration after defeating her at Wimbledon in 2019. That run was followed by a first-round win at the Australian Open in 2020, signaling that the American teenager belonged on the sport’s biggest courts.

Now an established star, Gauff opens her campaign against Kamilla Rakhimova, ranked No. 91, with the draw leaving open the chance of a second-round matchup with Williams. The storyline reflects how far Gauff has come, from an inspired newcomer to one of the tournament’s top seeds.

Williams’ return and a crowded draw

Williams faces a difficult path just to set up the meeting, starting against Olga Danilovic in the opening round. A win would make Williams the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the mark previously held by Kimiko Date.

The veteran has not recorded a win so far this season, suffering early exits in New Zealand and Hobart, but remains a major attraction whenever she steps on court. Both Americans share a half of the draw that includes top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, defending champion Madison Keys, and several former Grand Slam winners, setting the stage for a tightly contested tournament. [John Pye | Associated Press]