In a striking return to competitive tennis, Venus Williams announced her plans to join the US Open later this month. At 45, she will compete in the redesigned mixed doubles event with partner Reilly Opelka. Their team is one of 14 selected by the USTA on Tuesday for the tournament scheduled for August 19–20. This decision comes following her recent win at the Washington Open.
Williams had been absent from the professional circuit for more than a year, making a notable comeback with appearances resurfacing on the tour. She played last week at the D.C. Open in Washington, recording victories in both singles and doubles after a long break that began with her last match at the Miami Open in March 2024. She was awarded a wild-card invitation to next month’s Cincinnati Open as well.
The mixed doubles field comprises teams chosen on the basis of their combined singles rankings, with eight pairs earning direct spots. Six duos obtained wild-card selections from USTA. The tournament will feature competitors who have secured at least one Grand Slam singles title, and several participants are ranked among the ATP and WTA top ten. Originally, Badosa planned to pair with Stefanos Tsitsipas while Draper was aligned with Zheng Qinwen.
In total, 16 teams will compete for a $1 million prize, with the final two wild-card teams to be announced later. There is a chance that Williams will request participation in the singles draw, pending USTA’s announcement due the week of August 11. Her record features seven Grand Slam singles titles, 14 doubles championships with her sister Serena, and two mixed doubles titles, promising an exciting return for devoted fans and fellow players.
