Five-time Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams, the former world No. America’s most recognizable face in tennis is poised to make an unprecedented comeback to the US Open this year. Now 45, she’s earned a wild card into the singles main draw. This will be her first appearance at the tournament since exiting on home soil during her last match in 2021. This return is a testament to her amazing resilience. It renders her the oldest singles entrant at Flushing Meadows since Renee Richards, who was 47 in 1981.
Williams has been making a comeback after an almost five-year absence from the game at the DC Open in July. There, she achieved her first singles win in two years, a testament to her lasting skills on the court. Williams created a flurry of headlines by becoming the oldest player to win a singles match on the WTA Tour since Martina Navratilova in 2004. While she eventually fell to 24th-ranked Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2, her record-breaking feat was still shaking the tennis world.
Williams, a decorated veteran of the sport with an extremely impressive record spanning 35 years. She’s earned 7 Grand Slam singles titles and captured 2 mixed doubles Grand Slam championships back in 1998. Beyond this, she has found immense success paired up with her sister, Serena Williams, with whom she has won 14 doubles titles. This year, she’ll be living her dream on the US Open stage. She’s teaming up with fellow American Reilly Opelka for the mixed doubles competition!
Although currently ranked 654th in the world and having been listed as inactive on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) website until last month, Williams’ entry into the US Open is expected to be a significant draw for fans and broadcasters alike. Tournament organizers are optimistic that her participation will be enough to boost in-person attendance but draw much more compelling media coverage of the event.
Williams won’t be the only player completing the women’s singles main draw with a wild card. Clervie Ngounoue, Julieta Pareja, Caty McNally, Valerie Glozman, Alyssa Ahn, Caroline Garcia and Talia Gibson all punched their tickets! The addition of these exceptional athletes is indicative of the tournament’s efforts to highlight up-and-coming talents next to the biggest stars in the game.
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