Venus Williams awarded wildcard to US Open 2026, Flushing Meadows, New York; Serena could join, potential Williams sisters reunion.

US Open 2026: Venus Williams awarded one of eight women’s singles wildcards – with one yet to be announced

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion will be in the singles main draw at Flushing Meadows - will sister Serena follow suit?

Venus Williams is confirmed to compete in the women’s singles main draw of the US Open 2026 , as she was awarded a wildcard on Tuesday (18 August).

The U.S. tennis great, who has won two singles and two doubles titles at her home Grand Slam, will return to Flushing Meadows for the 26 th time in her career.

Venus was knocked out in the opening round last time out and is chasing a first main-draw win at the US Open since 2019. This also marks just her second major singles appearance of the season after the Australian Open.

While the four-time Olympic champion has taken one of the eight women’s singles wildcards, there remains one “to be announced” by tournament organisers in each singles draw.

It leaves the door open for sister Serena to return to the US Open after four years, having made her tennis comeback in June during the grass-court swing.

The final Wimbledon wildcard was also announced after an extended wait, and was eventually awarded to the 23-time major singles champion. The pair were also awarded a doubles wildcard at the All England Club but had to withdraw due to Serena’s knee injury .

Cincinnati Open 2026: Williams sisters come up short in doubles match

The Williams Sisters at age 11 and 12

Two of the greatest women players to grace a tennis court, Venus and Serena Williams have never lacked talent, drive, backing or confidence.

The Williams sisters made their doubles comeback at the Cincinnati Open this week, narrowly losing a match tiebreak to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in their first match together since the 2022 US Open.

Venus was due to be playing in the mixed doubles championship with Alexander Bublik , a top-10 men’s player as recently as this May. But she is not on the latest entry list for qualifying or the main draw, published on 17 August, though there remain three main-draw wildcards.

Among the other recipients of the men’s and women’s singles wildcards are former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and the retiring Gaël Monfils , contesting the final Grand Slam of his career.

The US Open gets underway next week with the mixed doubles event starting on 24 August, before the singles main draw begins on 30 August.

US Open 2026 – women’s singles wildcards

US Open 2026 – men’s singles wildcards

Picture by Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

30 August - 13 September

Tennis | US Open | New York | United States