Tennis icon Venus Williams will be returning to Grand Slam singles at the U.S. Open, thanks to a wild-card invitation she received on Wednesday. At 45 years old, she will be the oldest singles entrant in the tournament since Renee Richards in 1981.
Williams, a two-time U.S. Open singles champion, has not competed in a Grand Slam singles event for two years. The U.S. Open singles matches are set to begin on August 24 in New York. The U.S. Tennis Association had already granted her a wild-card entry for next week’s mixed doubles competition.
Throughout her illustrious career, Williams has won a total of seven major singles championships, including U.S. Open titles in 2000 and 2001. She also holds 14 major women’s doubles titles, all won alongside her younger sister Serena, and two mixed doubles titles. Her sister, Serena, retired from tennis after the 2022 U.S. Open with 23 Grand Slam singles trophies.