Venus Williams Receives US Open Doubles Wild Card, Teams With Leylah Fernandez for Thursday Opener
The pairing gives the two-time US Open doubles champion a new path to continue her return on home courts.
Overview
- USTA granted Williams a women’s doubles wildcard a day after her three-set singles loss to No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova, 3-6, 6-2, 1-6.
- Williams and Fernandez, teaming for the first time, will face No. 6 seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez on August 28.
- The Arthur Ashe crowd gave Williams a standing ovation after her singles match, and Muchova praised her as “such a legend.”
- Williams resumed competition this summer after roughly 16 months away that included fibroid surgery, earning singles and doubles wins in Washington.
- She owns 14 major women’s doubles titles with Serena Williams, including US Open crowns in 1999 and 2009.