The fact that tennis is making headlines beyond the sports page is news in itself. That it manages to displace the omnipresent football coverage on the news for a few days is almost a small secular miracle. And that it's due to both a final victory and an outfit speaks volumes about the unique nature of this sport. In recent days, tennis has achieved exactly that: creating a foothold in the news not only because Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open in a high-voltage final, but also because Naomi Osaka entered the court in a jellyfish-inspired outfit. It might seem anecdotal, but it's not.

At 45, Venus Williams isn't satisfied. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is entering her 31st season as a professional player after debuting in 1994 when she was just 14. Now she has received a wildcard entry to return to the Australian Open, where she will become the oldest player ever to participate in the Melbourne tournament. That determined girl who challenged older rivals has become a woman who enjoys tennis, especially after getting married.