{
  "id": 1803687,
  "title": "Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard at 46, Serena may follow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/venus-williams-receives-us-open-wildcard-at-46-serena-may-follow-1803687",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T21:21:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News",
    "slug": "abc-news",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-19/venus-williams-popyrin-receive-us-open-wildcards/107052864"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Venus Williams, the 46-year-old tennis player, has been granted a wildcard entry for the US Open tournament. This makes her the oldest singles entrant in the event since Renee Richards, who participated at the age of 47 in 1981. The US Open is also reserving a spot for her sister, Serena Williams, who may choose to return to the tournament at the age of 44.\n\nAmong the men's wildcards, Alexei Popyrin from Australia and Gael Monfils are included, alongside other players like Stan Wawrinka, who is retiring after this season. Women's wildcards have been given to Sloane Stephens, who was a US Open champion in 2017, and six other players. The final wildcard for women's singles is yet to be announced, likely going to Serena if she decides to return.\n\nVenus Williams has previously received a wildcard for the US Open and is currently the oldest singles player, as confirmed by the International Tennis Federation. She has been playing singles matches and recently teamed up with her sister Serena for the doubles tournament at the Cincinnati Open, though they lost in a match tiebreaker. The sisters had planned to participate in Wimbledon but had to withdraw due to Serena's knee injury, which was her first time playing singles since the 2022 US Open. Venus has expressed her hope to continue competing if she remains healthy. The main draw of the US Open commences on August 30, with qualifying tournaments taking place earlier in the week.",
  "summary": "One Williams sister is officially in this year's US Open women's singles draw and the tournament is keeping one spot open for the other, four years after her farewell.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard at 46, Serena may follow",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/venus-williams-receives-us-open-wildcard-at-46-serena-may-follow",
        "published": "2026-08-18T21:21:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}