Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard for the US Open singles main draw, alongside 2017 champion Sloane Stephens, with one wildcard spot still open that could go to her sister Serena. The 46-year-old first played in New York 29 years ago and won two of her seven Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows, but has struggled badly in singles recently, winless in her last 13 matches. The move keeps alive the possibility that the sisters could both feature at the tournament that begins on 30 August, continuing a comeback that has already drawn huge crowds this summer.

Venus's last singles win came in Washington in July 2025, and she has played only one Grand Slam singles match this year, losing in the first round of the Australian Open. Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion who returned to tennis in June after stepping away for four years, played singles at Wimbledon and reunited with Venus for doubles at the Cincinnati Open this week, where they lost a tight three-set match. In the men's draw, Gael Monfils has been given a wildcard for what is expected to be the final Grand Slam of his career, with one remaining men's spot possibly going to 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka, who is also retiring at year's end.