Williams sisters granted US Open doubles wildcard, set to play in New York

Serena and Venus Williams will compete together in the US Open women’s doubles after receiving a wildcard from the United States Tennis Association, organizers announced on Wednesday. The sisters, who last played as a Grand Slam pairing at the 2022 US Open, are scheduled to begin their campaign on either Sept. 3 or Sept. 4 in New York.

The 44-year-old Serena Williams and her 46-year-old sister Venus have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, including US Open crowns in 1999 and 2009. Their most recent joint appearance came earlier this month in Cincinnati, where they lost in the first round to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns.

Serena Williams had previously returned to Grand Slam action this summer at Wimbledon, where she received a singles wildcard but lost in the first round. A knee injury sustained during that tournament forced her to withdraw from the Wimbledon doubles, where she was set to partner Venus. She also competed in the US Open mixed doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz, winning their opening match before falling in the quarterfinals on Tuesday to Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic.

Venus Williams, who has continued to play sporadically on the WTA Tour, was also awarded a wildcard for the US Open singles draw, which begins Sunday. Serena will not compete in singles in New York, according to media reports.

The Williams sisters’ doubles reunion follows a planned but canceled appearance at Wimbledon due to Serena’s injury. Their last Grand Slam doubles title came at Wimbledon in 2016.

Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka secured a late wildcard entry into the US Open singles main draw after Patrick Kypson withdrew due to injury. The 41-year-old Swiss, a 2016 US Open champion, will make his final appearance in New York before retiring at the end of the year. Wawrinka had previously received wildcards for the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2026, reaching the third round in Melbourne.

In other US Open action, Alcaraz and Williams defeated Lloyd Glasspool and Erin Routliffe 5-3, 4-1 in their mixed doubles opener before losing to Cobolli and Bencic. Alcaraz, playing his first competitive matches since a spring injury, called the experience of partnering Williams “very special” and admitted to early nerves. “It took a few games to get into it. But Serena made it very easy to enjoy,” he said . Williams, who had not played mixed doubles since 2019, said she never expected to return to the US Open’s center court.