Tennis legend Venus Williams has been handed a wildcard to participate in the mixed-doubles event at the U.S. Open which serves off next month.
The United States Tennis Association announced on Tuesday that eight teams have received direct entries into the tournament, as well as six wild-card entrants. Two more teams will take part as wild cards.
Venus received a wild-card entry, and will play with big-serving American Reilly Opelka.
The former world number one has enjoyed success in the doubles on the biggest stage in Tennis.
She won two Grand Slam mixed-doubles titles in 1998, as well as three Olympic gold medals and 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles events with her younger sister, Serena.
She became the oldest player to win a WTA Tour singles match in 21 years in the defeat to Magdalena French at the Washington Open last week.
The mixed-doubles competition will feature most of the men and women ranked in the Top 10. The 16 mixed-double pairs will be battling for a $1 million first prize.
Mixed-doubles matches will take place over two days, Aug. 19 and 20, before play in the main draw begins.
The likes of No. 11 Emma Navarro and No. 1 Jannik Sinner; Belinda Bencic and No. 3 Alexander Zverev; No. 12 Elena Rybakina and No. 4 Taylor Fritz; No. 10 Paula Badosa and No. 5 Jack Draper; No. 7 Amanda Anisimova and No. 9 Holger Rune; No. 3 Iga Swiatek and No. 13 Casper Ruud; No. 4 Jessica Pegula and No. 15 Tommy Paul; and No. 5 Mirra Andreeva and No. 14 Daniil Medvedev received direct entries into the tournament.
US Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have also received wild cards.
The other wild-card entrants are Emma Raducanu and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz; Olga Danilovic and No. 6 Novak Djokovic; Taylor Townsend and No. 7 Ben Shelton; No. 8 Madison Keys and No. 12 Frances Tiafoe; and the reigning U.S. Open mixed-doubles champions, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
Williams has won 49 WTA Tour–level singles titles, including seven majors (five at Wimbledon and two at the US Open), as well as a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
She has also won 22 doubles titles, including 14 majors and three Olympic gold medals.
Wildcards in tennis are usually awarded by a tournament’s organisers, and they are usually given to local players, young and upcoming players, players returning from injuries, winners of wildcard tournaments, and recipients of wildcard swaps.
