Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard at 46 as Serena awaits final spot

Wildcard allocations at Flushing Meadows

The United States Tennis Association allocated seven women's and seven men's main-draw wildcards on Tuesday for the 2026 US Open. Two-time champion Venus Williams received direct entry into the singles tournament at age 46, extending her career in New York 29 years after her debut run to the final in 1997. Williams became the oldest women's singles entrant at Flushing Meadows since Renee Richards competed at age 47 in 1981. She was eliminated in the first round last year by Karolina Muchova and played one Grand Slam tournament earlier this year, falling to Olga Danilovic at the Australian Open. She is joined in the women's draw by 2017 champion Sloane Stephens, who is mounting a comeback after a foot injury sidelined her for much of 2025. The remaining announced women's wildcards went to Carol Young Suh Lee, Reese Brantmeier, 17-year-old Thea Frodin, France's Leolia Jeanjean, and Australia's Taylah Preston.

Open slots for Serena Williams and Stan Wawrinka

Tournament organisers left one wildcard spot unallocated in both the men's and women's singles draws ahead of the main draw beginning on August 30. The vacant women's invitation is being held for 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams, who returned to competitive tennis in June at Wimbledon. Serena had not played a Grand Slam singles tournament since the 2022 US Open, where she reached the third round before losing to Ajla Tomljanovic. On the men's side, 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka is the leading candidate for the eighth wildcard slot. The 41-year-old Swiss player, who marks the tenth anniversary of his New York title, intends to retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season.

Cincinnati doubles defeat and recent form

The wildcard announcements followed a doubles return for Venus and Serena Williams at the Cincinnati Open on Monday. Playing together for the first time since the 2022 US Open, the 14-time Grand Slam doubles champions were defeated 2-6, 6-1, (10-8) by Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns. The sisters trailed 6-0 in the deciding ten-point match tiebreaker before mounting a comeback that ended on a Venus double fault. Serena spoke positively about their joint performance after the match.

I thought it was fun, I thought it was special, I thought it was good. We kicked off a little rust in the middle of the match. We were starting to feel it, and it was really fun. It was really cool to be able to do this again.

Venus also addressed their partnership after a planned doubles appearance at Wimbledon was cancelled due to Serena's knee injury.

I think we've waited a long time to get back on the doubles court, even this year. Eventually, we find our way to each other.

Men's draw and tournament schedule

Both sisters have had limited singles match play leading into the final Grand Slam tournament of the season, which runs from August 30 to September 13. Serena's Wimbledon singles campaign ended with an opening-round defeat to Maya Joint, during which she injured her knee. Venus competed in the Cincinnati singles draw, losing 6-2, 6-2 to Emiliana Arango, and has lost her last 13 singles matches dating back to July 2025 in Washington. The announced men's wildcard field features 39-year-old Gael Monfils, who is playing his final Grand Slam season before retiring, and Australian Alexei Popyrin. Monfils and his spouse Elina Svitolina also received a wildcard entry for the mixed doubles event, alongside selections for NCAA champion Michael Zheng, Martin Damm Jr., J.J. Wolf, Sebastian Gorzny, and 18-year-old Jack Kennedy.