Venus Williams gets US Open wildcard; Serena may follow

Venus Williams, at 46, has been granted a wildcard into the US Open singles draw, marking her return to the Grand Slam event she won twice. She becomes the oldest singles entrant since Renee Richards in 1981. The tournament has also kept a wildcard spot open, fueling speculation that her sister, Serena Williams, 44, might decide to compete as well.

Serena Williams, who last played singles at the 2022 US Open, has indicated a desire to continue competing if healthy. She recently partnered with Venus for their first doubles tournament since 2022, though they lost in a tiebreaker at the Cincinnati Open. The sisters had planned to play at Wimbledon but withdrew due to Serena's knee injury.

Other notable wild card recipients include 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens. On the men's side, 39-year-old Gael Monfils, a former semifinalist, is set to play his final Grand Slam. A wildcard is also being held for Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 champion, who is in his final season at 41. Australian Alexei Popyrin, who upset Novak Djokovic in 2024, also received a men's wildcard.