NEW YORK — The legendary Venus Williams is making her much-anticipated comeback to Grand Slam tennis at the US Open after a two-year hiatus, having been granted a wild-card entry on Wednesday to compete in singles at Flushing Meadows, all at the incredible age of 45.
She will be the oldest player to participate in the singles draw since Renee Richards graced the courts at 47 in 1981, as reported by the International Tennis Federation.
In addition to singles, Williams has also secured a wild-card invitation from the U.S. Tennis Association for the upcoming mixed doubles event. Singles action kicks off in New York on August 24.
A powerhouse of the sport, Williams boasts an impressive collection of seven major singles titles—including her triumphs at the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001—along with an astonishing 14 women’s doubles titles, all achieved alongside her sister, Serena, plus two in mixed doubles. Serena, a titan in her own right, retired with 23 Grand Slam singles titles after her final appearance at the 2022 U.S. Open.
The last time the elder Williams graced the Grand Slam stage was during the 2023 U.S. Open, where she faced defeat in the first round. It’s been since 2019 that she secured a singles victory at this prestigious event.
When Venus returned to the tour last month at the DC Open after a 16-month break, a journalist inquired if this would be a one-off appearance or if she had plans for more competitions.
“I’m just here for now, and who knows?” she responded, with an infectious smile. “Maybe there’s more. … But at the moment, I’m focused just on this. I haven’t played in a year. There is no doubt I can play tennis, but obviously coming back to play matches, it takes time to get in the swing of things. I definitely feel I’ll play well. I’m still the same player. I’m a big hitter. I hit big. This is my brand.”
After undergoing surgery last year to remove uterine fibroids, Williams spent a significant portion of the season on the sidelines. However, she made headlines in Washington this July, marking her return with a historic victory as the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova at the age of 47 in 2004; she also triumphed in doubles at the DC Open.
In the process, Williams garnered attention not just for her tennis skills but also for announcing her engagement to an Italian actor, along with her lighthearted quips about needing to get back on the court for health insurance coverage.
“I love Venus. We’re friends. I didn’t really know this was something she was still wanting to do, but I also didn’t know it was something she didn’t want to do,” commented Mark Ein, chairman of the hard-court tournament in Washington. “I was surprised. And it was a wonderful surprise.”
In another twist, Williams entered the Cincinnati Open via wild card last week, albeit exiting in the initial round of singles.
Upon her arrival in New York, she will team up with Reilly Opelka, a 27-year-old American who once reached the top 20, for the mixed doubles tournament slated for August 19-20.
Other female competitors receiving wild cards for the U.S. Open include Americans Clervie Ngounoue, Julieta Pareja, Caty McNally, Valerie Glozman, and Alyssa Ahn, along with France’s Caroline Garcia, who will play her final Grand Slam before bidding farewell to tennis, and Australia’s Talia Gibson.
In the men’s division, wild cards were awarded to Americans Brandon Holt, Nishesh Basavareddy, Tristan Boyer, Emilio Nava, Stefan Dostanic, and Darwin Blanch, along with France’s Valentin Royer and Australia’s Tristan Schoolkate.
