Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard entry into this year’s US Open singles tournament, a competition she has won twice in her illustrious career. After making her US Open finals debut as a teenager 28 years ago, Williams is making her comeback as a 45-year-old veteran, having missed the last two editions due to surgery.

With this wildcard, Williams becomes the oldest player to enter a US Open singles event since Renee Richards did at age 47 in 1981. This follows her earlier mixed doubles invitation from the USTA.

Recently at the DC Open in Washington, Williams became the oldest player since 2004 to win a singles match on the WTA tour, defeating Peyton Stearns. This achievement echoes Martina Navratilova, who won a singles match at age 47 in 2004.

‘I’m Still the Same Player,’ Promises Venus

After returning from a surgery-related hiatus, Williams is back on tour. Though absent from professional tennis since 2023, she has not announced her retirement. When questioned about her future at the Washington event, the seven-time grand slam champion kept her answers open-ended.

“I’m just here for now, and who knows? Maybe there’s more… But at the moment, I’m focused just on this,” Williams shared after her win. “I haven’t played in a year. There is no doubt I can play tennis, but coming back to match play takes time. I definitely feel I’ll play well. I’m still the same player.”

Williams, a two-time US Open champion with additional slam titles from Wimbledon, reached the finals in 2000 and 2001 at the US Open, marking two of her seven singles titles. Her recent best was in 2017 when she reached the finals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and the semifinals in New York.