August 13, (THEWILL) — Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard entry into the 2025 US Open singles draw, tournament officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The 45-year-old American legend will compete in her first Flushing Meadows singles event since suffering a first-round defeat to Belgium’s Greet Minnen in 2023.
Williams joins seven other recipients of women’s singles wildcards, including France’s Caroline Garcia, who announced her retirement plans earlier this year.
The wildcard allocation marks another chapter in Williams’s remarkable career longevity at tennis’s highest level.
The former world number one recently demonstrated her enduring competitive spirit at the Washington Open in July, where she defeated Peyton Stearns to become the oldest player to claim a WTA singles victory since 2004.
That triumph ended a 16-month competitive hiatus for Williams, who had stepped away from regular tour competition.
Her Washington performance sent ripples through the tennis community, proving that age remains merely a number for the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
The victory also served notice that Williams retains the physical capability to challenge younger opponents on court.
She will also participate in the tournament’s revamped mixed doubles competition alongside American partner Reilly Opelka.
The pairing represents an intriguing blend of Williams’s vast experience and Opelka’s powerful serving game.
Tournament organisers have redesigned the mixed doubles format for 2025, though specific details of the changes have not been fully disclosed.
Caroline Garcia’s wildcard selection carries particular significance given her announced retirement from professional tennis.
The 31-year-old Frenchwoman reached the US Open semi-finals in 2022 and captured the WTA Finals title that same season.
Garcia’s farewell tour has included several emotional moments at tournaments worldwide, with Flushing Meadows likely representing her final Grand Slam appearance.
Her inclusion ensures fans will witness the conclusion of a distinguished career that peaked during her remarkable 2022 campaign.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
