Tennis legends
The decision by the United States Tennis Association follows a high-profile appearance by Serena Williams at Arthur Ashe Stadium earlier this week. Serena, who is not competing in the singles event, recently partnered with Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles, reaching the quarterfinals before being eliminated. Venus Williams, meanwhile, had already secured a separate wildcard to participate in the women's singles competition.
A Decorated Partnership Returns to New York
The Williams sisters boast an extraordinary record in doubles, having claimed 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals as a team. Despite their illustrious history, the pair has faced challenges in recent outings. Their last appearance in New York occurred in 2022, where they were defeated in the opening round by the Czech duo of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova. More recently, they withdrew from Wimbledon earlier this summer following an injury sustained by Serena during her opening singles match, and they also exited in the first round of the Cincinnati Open.
Stan Wawrinka Secures Late Singles Wildcard
In addition to the doubles news, the USTA announced that three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has been awarded a last-minute wildcard for the men's singles tournament. The 41-year-old Swiss star will replace Patrick Kypson, who was forced to withdraw from the event due to an injury. Wawrinka’s inclusion follows significant public discussion regarding his initial omission from the wildcard list, given his status as a former US Open champion.
Wawrinka, who has indicated that he plans to retire at the end of the 2026 season, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the late invitation. While he has faced difficulties securing main tour victories in recent months—including first-round exits at both the French Open and Wimbledon—he remains a notable figure in the sport as one of the few players to challenge the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic by winning multiple Grand Slam titles. Currently ranked 127th, Wawrinka is expected to draw significant attention from fans when he returns to the courts in New York next week.
