08/18/26 11:52:00
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08/18 11:50 CDT Venus Williams gets a US Open singles wild card at 46, with
maybe a spot being held for Serena
Venus Williams gets a US Open singles wild card at 46, with maybe a spot being
held for Serena
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Venus Williams was given a wild card into the U.S. Open
singles tournament on Tuesday and the tournament is keeping one on hold ---
perhaps in case her sister Serena wants to join her.
Sloane Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, was one of six other women to
receive a wild card, and the U.S. Tennis Association said the final one is
still to be announced.
That almost certainly would go to Serena Williams, if she decides she wants to
return to the tournament at 44.
Venus Williams received a wild card last year, returning to the tournament she
won twice for the first time since 2023. The 46-year-old became the oldest
entrant in singles at the tournament since Renee Richards played at 47 in 1981,
according to the International Tennis Federation.
She has continued to play some singles matches and this week joined Serena for
their first doubles tournament together since the 2022 U.S. Open. They lost
Monday at the Cincinnati Open in a match tiebreaker against Marta Kostyuk and
Peyton Stearns.
The sisters planned to play at Wimbledon but had to withdraw after Serena
injured her knee in her singles match. That marked her first time playing
singles since the 2022 U.S. Open, and she indicated afterward that she hoped to
keep competing if healthy.
Headlining the wild-card recipients on the men's side were 39-year-old Gael
Monfils, set to play his final Grand Slam tournament before retiring, and
Australian Alexei Popyrin, who upset Novak Djokovic in 2024 on the way to the
fourth round. One spot is also being held among the eight men's wild cards.
Also receiving women's wild cards were Carol Young Suh Lee, Reese Brantmeier,
Thea Frodin, Leolia Jeanjean and Taylah Preston.
The other men receiving wild cards were two-time reigning NCAA singles champion
Michael Zheng, Martin Damm, J.J. Wolf, Sebastian Gorzny and Jack Kennedy.
The main draw begins Aug. 30, with the qualifying tournaments being played
earlier that week.
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