Venus Williams extends time at US Open, will play doubles

Venus Williams’ time at the U.S. Open isn’t over just yet.

The American tennis star will take part in the women’s doubles championship after she was given a wild card entry with Leylah Fernandez, the USTA announced on Tuesday night. 

Williams competed in her first U.S. Open since 2023 on Monday night when she was defeated in three sets by Karolina Muchova, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, in an exciting showing for a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

At 45 years old, Williams is the second-oldest singles player in U.S. Open history. 

Williams had played coy with what her plans would be following her first-round exit in this year’s singles tournament.

But she emotionally said that she had felt she had given “myself a chance to play more healthy.”

“When you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind,” she added. “It’s not just how you feel. You get stuck in your mind too. So… it was nice to be freer,” she said.

Williams also took part in the mixed doubles event with partner Reilly Opelka, but lost in the opening round.