Venus Williams receives wild card for US Open -- Serena next?

Field Level Media|published: Tue 18th August, 14:37 2026

Serena Williams and her sister, Venus Williams, compete in a doubles match during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason on Aug. 17, 2026. The sisters fell to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns, 6-2, 1-6, 10-8.

Venus Williams received one of seven wild cards on Tuesday for the upcoming singles tournament at the U.S. Open.

The U.S. Tennis Association said there was one wild card remaining ... with many wondering if her sister, Serena, would get an invitation to the New York-based tournament that begins on Aug. 30.

Serena Williams, 44, and her sister lost a first-round match to Peyton Stearns and Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (8) on Monday at the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio. It marked nearly four years since the Williams sisters had teamed up to play doubles.

Serena Williams returned to the tour this year for the first time since 2022.

She has played just one singles match this year, a first-round loss to Australia's Maya Joint at Wimbledon. In that match, the 23-time major singles winner sustained a right knee injury that kept her from competing with her sister in the Wimbledon doubles event.

Venus Williams, 46, is 3-9 in doubles matches and 0-10 in singles matches in 2026.

In addition to 2000-01 champion Venus Williams, fellow former U.S. Open champ Sloane Stephens (2017), Carol Young Suh Lee, Reese Brantmeier, Thea Frodin, Taylah Preston and Leolia Jeanjean also received a wild card on Tuesday.

--Field Level Media

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