Venus Williams has not won a singles match in 2026 [Getty Images] Venus Williams has been given a wildcard for the US Open singles - and sister Serena could potentially still join her with one spot remaining. Venus, 46, first played in New York 29 years ago and reached the final on her singles debut in 1997. The American won two of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001. Venus and 2017 champion Sloane Stephens have been given direct entry into the main draw which begins on Sunday, 30 August. Serena returned to tennis in June, four years after "evolving away" from the sport, and played in singles at Wimbledon. The sisters were due to play doubles together at SW19 but withdrew after Serena, 44, injured her knee in her first-round loss to Maya Joint. They made their return together at the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday, losing a thriller at the Cincinnati Open in three sets. Wildcards for the women's doubles have yet to be announced, and there are three remaining places in the revamped mixed doubles competition that takes place from 24 August. Elder sister Venus has played singles sporadically on the WTA Tour over the past four years but has lost all 10 of her matches this season and is winless in 13. Her last singles win was in Washington in July 2025. Venus did not play singles at Wimbledon and has played just one Grand Slam match this year - a first-round loss to Serbia's Olga Danilovic at the Australian Open.
Williams sisters lose on doubles return Swiatek beats Rybakina for first title of season
Venus has fared better in doubles in recent years, reaching the quarter-finals in New York last year alongside Canada's Leylah Fernandez. She has not won a singles match at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2021, where she reached the second round. However, the Williams sisters still draw huge crowds together or separately, with stands packed out in Cincinnati for their recent return. Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, played what was expected to be the last tournament of her career in New York in 2022. However, she made her return first in doubles at Queen's in June before being given the final Wimbledon women's singles wildcard. Venus won her first US Open singles title in 2000, two months after earning her maiden major at Wimbledon. She beat Serena in the final a year later to defend her title - the first of nine major showpieces the sister would contest. Venus became the oldest US Open singles player in 44 years when she played at the tournament last year. She lost in three sets to ninth seed Karolina Muchova and gave an emotional news conference afterwards, saying it was "nice to be free". In 2011, Williams was diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disease with symptoms including pain, numbness and fatigue. She spoke in 2025 about the impact of painful fibroids - abnormal growths that develop in the uterus - on her daily life. In the men's draw, France's Gael Monfils has been awarded a wildcard in the final Grand Slam of his career. The 39-year-old, who reached the New York semi-finals in 2016, will retire at the end of the season. There is also one remaining wildcard for the men's singles, which could go to 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss is also calling time on his career at the end of the year.
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