Venus Williams given US Open singles wildcard – will Serena join her?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Venus Williams has not won a singles match in 2026ByAmy LofthouseBBC Sport senior journalistPublished18 August 2026, 18:02 BSTUpdated 11 minutes agoVenus Williams has been given a wildcard for the US Open singles – and sister Serena could potentially still join her with one spot remaining.Venus, 46, first played in New York 29 years ago and reached the final on her singles debut in 1997.The American won two of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001.Venus and 2017 champion Sloane Stephens have been given direct entry into the main draw which begins on Sunday, 30 August.Serena returned to tennis in June, four years after “evolving away” from the sport, and played in singles at Wimbledon.The sisters were due to play doubles together at SW19 but withdrew after Serena, 44, injured her knee in her first-round loss to Maya Joint.
They made their return together at the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday, losing a thriller at the Cincinnati Open in three sets.
Wildcards for the women’s doubles have yet to be unveiled, and there are three remaining places in the revamped mixed doubles competition that takes place from 24 August.
Elder sister Venus has played singles sporadically on the WTA Tour over the past four years but has lost all 10 of her matches this season and is winless in 13.
Her last singles win was in Washington in July 2025.
Venus did not play singles at Wimbledon and has played just one Grand Slam match this year – a first-round loss to Serbia’s Olga Danilovic at the Australian Open.
