Venus Williams, 45, to start 33rd season at Adelaide

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams will kick off her 33rd straight season on the WTA Tour in January in Auckland, New Zealand.

Tournament organizers confirmed Wednesday that the 45-year-old former World No. 1 will compete in the ASB Classic starting on Jan. 5, perhaps signaling her plans to compete in the Australian Open.

Williams, who currently ranks 570th, only competed in three tournaments this year and finished 1-3 in singles. She lost in the first round of the U.S. Open and the Cincinnati Open and won her only match this season in Washington, D.C., defeating Peyton Stearns in straight sets on July 22.

Williams made her professional debut in 1994 in Oakland, Calif., and has competed in at least two WTA events each season since.

Williams has won 49 singles titles, including five Wimbledon championships and two U.S. Open crowns. She has 22 doubles wins, including 14 majors. She is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist (three in doubles).