Williams sisters headline Cincinnati Open doubles wild cards
Cincinnati, Aug 4
Serena Williams and Venus Williams have been awarded a doubles wild card for the Cincinnati Open, which runs from August 13 to 23. This will mark their first match together since the 2022 US Open.
As a doubles team, the Williams sisters have won 14 Major titles and three Olympic gold medals. They last took the court for a doubles match together at the 2022 US Open and will be playing the Cincinnati Open for the first time as a team.
For Serena, Cincinnati will mark the latest stop in her return to competition after nearly four years away from the tour. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to competition for the first time since the 2022 US Open at Queen's Club in June, teaming with Victoria Mboko in doubles before making another doubles appearance in Berlin alongside Karolina Muchova.
She then returned to singles at Wimbledon, where she pushed 20-year-old Maya Joint to three sets before falling in the opening round.
Venus has also received a singles wild card along with Sloane Stephens, Taylor Townsend, Darja Vidmanova, Elvina Kalieva, Caroline Dolehide and Lois Boisson.
Venus owns a 12-10 Cincinnati Open record, having reached the semifinals in 2012 and quarterfinals in 2019. The 46-year-old first played on the WTA Tour in 1994, and has won 49 career singles titles, including seven Majors and the 2000 Olympic gold medal. She held the WTA No. 1 ranking for 11 weeks.
Stephens, a Cincinnati semifinalist in 2013, returns for the first time since 2023. The 33-year-old American has won eight titles, including the 2017 US Open, and has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the world.
Townsend, winner of the 2023 Cincinnati doubles title, made her first WTA Tour final in Austin and climbed back inside of the Top 100. The American will headline the doubles draw as the world's No. 1 team alongside Katerina Siniakova.
Qualifying wild cards have been awarded to 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, Akasha Urhobo, Carol Young Suh Lee, Jeline Vandromme and Robin Montgomery, a 21-year-old American who claimed her first WTA title in June.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's bittersweet watching Serena's comeback. She's clearly past her prime, but her fighting spirit is still inspiring. The Williams sisters' doubles chemistry is unmatched — 14 Grand Slams together proves that. Hopefully they can give us one more magical run!
As much as I respect their legacy, I wonder if this is the right call. Serena hasn't played competitive singles in years and Venus is 46. The young players like Taylor Townsend are the future. But hey, if they want one last dance, let them have it. The crowd will love it either way.
The Williams sisters are like the Tendulkar of tennis for us — even past their peak, their presence alone elevates the sport. 14 Grand Slam doubles titles is a record that may never be broken. Watching them play together again is a gift to tennis fans worldwide. 🙌
Honestly, I think Serena should focus on her business ventures and family now. She proved everything in tennis already. These comeback attempts feel forced. But Cincinnati organizers know exactly what they're doing — ticket sales will go through the roof with this announcement.
Amazing news! 😍 The Williams sisters are absolute trailblazers. Growing up in India, they were the reason many of us girls picked up a racquet. Their doubles partnership is pure poetry — the way they anticipate each other's moves is something special. Fingers crossed for a deep run in Cincinnati!
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