Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has received a main draw wild card to compete at the 2025 US Open.
The complete batch of wild cards was released with 45-year-old Williams as the obvious headliner maker. Venus will play in her 25th US Open when the final Major of the season kicks off in New York City on Sunday, August 24th.
The legendary American won two of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at the US Open (2000 and 2001) and finished runner-up on two occasions (1997 and 2002). Her last US Open appearance was in 2023, when she lost to Greet Minnen in the opening round.
Venus had been out of action for 16 months until this season, when she accepted a main draw wild card to play at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., last month. She stunned compatriot Peyton Stearns to register her first WTA win in two years, but lost in the subsequent round to Magdalena Frech.
Her next outing was in Cincinnati, where she received another wild card. Despite putting up another gutsy performance, she fell short in a tight straight sets loss to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Venus Williams will be the oldest singles entrant at the US Open since 1981
Venus’ surprise wild card appearances in the two tune-up tournaments sparked some interest among fans that she might be preparing for the US Open. And that theory certainly became true, with Williams now confirmed among six American wild cards who will appear in the women’s draw next weekend.
The former World No. 1 will be the oldest player to compete in this year’s edition and the oldest singles entrant at the US Open since Renee Richards in 1981. Williams has rebuffed retirement questions in recent years and has previously stated that she could play until 50. She has also opened up about her injury setbacks that have limited her to only a handful of appearances since the start of the 2020 season. Venus has played 45 times in five years, and only five matches since 2024.
Main Photo Credit: Syndication: Desert Sun/USAToday Images
