Venus Williams gets US Open wildcard, to make record-extending 24th appearance

Venus Williams has been handed a wildcard to take part in the upcoming US Open.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA), organisers of the Grand Slam tournament, announced her participation via X on Wednesday.

SHEESH! 😱@Venuseswilliams will make her 24th main draw appearance at the US Open. pic.twitter.com/A5NEILmaNC

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 16, 2023

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The 43-year-old is one of five players – including former world number one Caroline Wozniacki – granted a free pass to the US Open.

Williams, who won consecutive US Open titles in 2000 and 2001, is on course to seal a record-extending 24th US Open singles event.

Now ranked 533rd, she is returning to the singles draw for the first time since 2019 when she was eliminated in the third round.

Williams’ appearance at Flushing Meadows, New York will also see her achieve a record-extending 93rd major women’s singles tournament.

Building on her improved form, Williams claimed a win against a top 20 player for the first time in four years this week, eliminating 16th-ranked Veronika Kudermetova in the first round of the ongoing Cincinnati Open.

The US Open, the final major tennis event of the year, starts on August 28.