The U.S. Open is preparing to welcome several familiar faces in the women’s singles category, with the tennis tournament revealing its selection of eight wild-card entrants. Among the notable players are Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, both set to grace this year’s competition. The main tournament will kick off on August 28th.
Venus Williams is gearing up for her 24th appearance at the U.S. Open. Boasting an impressive record of seven Grand Slam victories, including consecutive titles in Queens in 2000 and 2001, she has undeniably etched her name in the annals of tennis history. At 43 years old, Williams faced a six-month hiatus this year due to an injury that prompted her withdrawal from the Australian Open in January. However, she made a triumphant return in June, competing as a wild card at Wimbledon. Her recent feat includes a victory over the 16th-ranked Veronika Kudermetova at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, marking her first win against a top-20 opponent in four years.
Caroline Wozniacki, a former world No. 1, is poised to rejoin the U.S. Open for the first time since her retirement after the 2020 Australian Open at the age of 29. Her sole major championship victory came at the 2018 Australian Open. In June, Wozniacki announced her decision to return to professional tennis after a period of extensive travel with her husband, former NBA star David Lee, and the birth of their two children. Notably, she has reached the U.S. Open final twice before, finishing as the runner-up to Kim Clijsters in 2009 and Serena Williams in 2014.
Expressing her thoughts on the comeback, the 33-year-old Wozniacki stated, “How long will I be able to sustain my peak performance – a year, two years, three years? I cannot predict. However, I am certain that waiting five years until the kids are in school would be too late. While I’m not inclined to make audacious claims, my belief in myself propels me forward. I possess too much competitive spirit to merely participate without aiming to be among the finest players.”
Rounding out the roster of wild-card recipients are Ashlyn Krueger, Robin Montgomery, Kayla Day, Clervie Ngounoue, Storm Hunter, and Fiona Ferro. Notably, Hunter and Ferro have secured their spots in the tournament through partnerships with Tennis Australia and the French Tennis Federation.
