The world of professional tennis is buzzing with a sensation that confirms the status of a legend beyond time. The organizers of the US Open have officially announced the granting of a wildcard to former world number one Venus Williams. In August 2026, at the age of 46, the American will step onto the courts of Flushing Meadows in New York to compete in the Grand Slam singles tournament.
Heavy statistics and the return of a legend
The organizers' decision appears particularly dramatic against the backdrop of the athlete's current form. Venus Williams is experiencing one of the most difficult periods in her long career. As of mid-August 2026, the legendary tennis player's losing streak in singles stands at 14 consecutive matches. This unfortunate run has lasted for over a year. In the current 2026 season, the American played 11 matches and lost every single one, including a match at the Australian Open against Serbian Olga Danilovich.
Despite the bleak statistics of recent months, the US Open organizers are betting on history and Williams' contribution to the development of tennis. For the 46-year-old athlete, this will be her second appearance at this tournament in the last two years. Last year, she also received a wildcard, but at that time, she could not overcome the barrier of the first round, losing to Czech Karolina Muchova in a tense three-set match.
Historical achievements and records
Venus' return to the Grand Slam courts in 2026 is not just participation, but a continuation of writing history. The American has seven Grand Slam singles trophies to her credit: two of which she won at the US Open in 2000 and 2001, and five at Wimbledon. At the beginning of 2026, at the Australian Open, Venus updated the age record by playing in the main draw at 45, which is already a unique achievement in modern sports.
Participation in the US Open 2026 will be another proof of her incredible endurance and love for the game. While many athletes retire at 30, Williams continues to challenge young opponents, inspiring a new generation of tennis players.
Situation in doubles and the Williams sisters
While Venus is facing difficulties in singles, her situation in doubles is better. Her only victories in 2026 were achieved in mixed doubles and women's doubles. She performed successfully in duets with Alexandra Eala, Diana Schneider, and Katie Boulter. The reunion of the Williams sisters attracted special attention from fans. However, even in this legendary duo, Venus and Serena lost to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk at the Cincinnati tournament.
It is worth noting that Venus' younger sister, Serena Williams, who resumed her career after a four-year break and competed at Wimbledon 2026, has not yet received a wildcard for the US Open 2026. This creates intrigue: will we see the sisters on the court together in New York, or will they compete in different disciplines?
Contradictory data
In the context of Venus Williams' participation in the US Open 2026, there are some discrepancies in sources regarding the format of her participation. The main confirmation concerns the wildcard in singles, which is the main news. However, a number of sources (specifically championat.com and sports.ru) also report Venus' entry for the mixed doubles, where she will compete in a pair with Kazakh tennis player Alexander Bublik. At the same time, information about the women's doubles with Serena Williams at the US Open remains less confirmed, as Serena has not yet received a wildcard. Thus, the version of the sisters' joint performance in doubles at the US Open 2026 is currently just a hypothesis, while Venus' participation in singles and mixed doubles with Bublik is a confirmed fact.
Tournament start and Ukraine's participation
The main draw of the women's tournament in New York starts on September 6, 2026. Seven representatives of Ukraine are registered for this prestigious tournament, making the upcoming event an important occasion for domestic tennis as well. Earlier, it was reported that Elina Svitolina effectively reached the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, showing excellent form before the start of the Grand Slam.
