After their appearances at Wimbledon, Serena Williams and Venus Williams are expected to play at the U.S. Open later this year.
Serena, 44, is expected to play the mixed doubles event, possibly with Carlos Alcaraz, and it remains highly plausible that she might even play in women’s doubles and singles as well.
“Her intention is to keep playing, the U.S. Open as well,” her coach Rennae Stubbs said, per The U.S. Sun. “As long as physically she can go – and I’m hoping in a few weeks that’s the case – to get her back on the court and hitting balls.”
Venus, 46, is also expected to make an appearance in at least the mixed doubles. She played mixed at Wimbledon with Germany’s Kevin Krawietz as wildcards but lost in the first round to Great Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova.
“Both are expected to be at the 2026 U.S. Open, starting with the Mixed Doubles, perhaps Serena and Carlos Alcaraz, particularly if Carlos Alcaraz’s wrist is healed,” Jon Wertheim said on Tennis Channel.
Alcaraz, world No. 3, has been out since mid-April due to an inflamed tendon sheath injury in his right wrist. It remains unclear whether he will return by the start of the U.S. Open. “Serena could probably find another partner,” joked Jim Courier on Tennis Channel.
Speaking about the summer hardcourt season, Venus Williams has received a wildcard entry into the D.C. Open, which begins on July 25. A year ago, she defeated 2022 NCAA singles champion Peyton Stearns at the event 6-3, 6-4. There’s a chance that after the D.C. Open, both Williams sisters could be back for the National Bank Open in Toronto, held from August 2-13.
“I’m told Venus will be back in Toronto and Serena is expected to be there as well, though it’s uncertain whether it will just be for singles or for doubles and singles ,” Wertheim reported.
The Cincinnati Open runs from August 11-23 and is the biggest warm-up tournament for the US Open. “I’m told that the Williams sisters will see how they feel; Cincinnati is entirely possible as a next stop. Come on, ladies, come on down (to Cincinnati),” Courier said.
Serena returned to singles at Wimbledon after nearly four years off and lost to Maya Joint in the first round. She was supposed to play the ladies’ doubles with her sister, Venus; however, they were forced to withdraw due to Serena’s right knee injury.
“She did whisper to me, ‘I would have won if I had a good knee,’” Stubbs said. “Leading up to the tournament, she was playing practice sets, beating players that are still in the tournament. I won’t mention which ones because I don’t want to embarrass them, but she was playing well.”
