Venus Williams returns to US Open

The tennis icon returns to the US Open as the oldest singles participant in more than four decades, entering with a wild card.

Venus Williams at 45 becomes oldest US Open singles player in decades

Venus Williams, 45, will compete at the US Open this month as a wild card entry, making her the oldest singles player in the tournament since 1981. She is currently ranked 654th in the WTA, a low point that follows injuries and a string of uneven results in 2023. Williams will mark her 25th US Open singles appearance and has previously won the title twice. She will also team with Reilly Opelka in the mixed doubles.

This appearance shows the sport’s willingness to honor longevity and star power at the same time it prizes merit and form. Williams’s return sits alongside a broader history of older players competing at the Open, and it continues a pattern of memorable late-career moments that keep public attention tied to the tournament.

This move tests how tennis handles age and relevance on a stage built on speed and peak form. A wild card can broaden the appeal and celebrate a legend, but it also invites questions about fairness for younger players climbing the ladder.

If Williams performs well, the story could reinforce a narrative that persistence matters more than a pristine ranking. If not, the episode may be seen as a publicity moment for a sport that cherishes tradition while chasing modern audiences.

Highlights

History writes its chapters on a court where legends still chase new pages