US Open: Venus And Serena Williams handed Wild Card
Sisters Serena and Venus Williams will pair up on the court for the first time in four years after receiving a wild card into the doubles at the US Open, as confirmed on Saturday
Last act by William sistersSerena Williams has disclosed her plans to retire after the upcoming US Open. She has not played beside elder sister Venus in a doubles event since the duo was defeated in the last 16 at the 2018 French Open.
They have not competed together at the US Open since 2014. Serena and Venus were an intimidating pair in the Grand Slam double tennis, where they picked up 14 titles and three Olympic gold medals - 2000, 2008, and 2012.
They became the latest team to secure all four significant doubles titles simultaneously with victories at 2009 Wimbledon, 2009 US Open, 2010 Australian Open and 2010 French Open.
Venus and Serena have been two-time champions of the women's doubles crown at the US Open, winning the trophy first in 1999 and then in 2009.
The last time they won a Grand Slam doubles event was at Wimbledon in 2016, around 17 years after their first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in 1999.
Serena Williams, who will turn 41 next month, is expected to retire from tennis after her upcoming campaign at Flushing Meadows. She will walk away from a career path laden with 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
In early August, she declared the 2022 US Open to be her final tournament, where she would play her opening round against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic in the first round Monday night.
The 40-year-old has not exhibited good form lately, having won only one of the last four matches on tour. Williams will still enter her next match as the favourite given her popularity, while for Kovinic, it would be a memorable match.
The Montenegrin player exclaimed, "What a moment, looking forward to this" on her upcoming clash against the American, giving away immense excitement.
Meanwhile, Serena's sister Venus, who is 42 years old, has not shown any hint of retiring. She will play her first-round match on Tuesday against Belgium's Alison Van Uytvanck.
The Williams sisters have reportedly practiced together at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, days before the 2022 US Open.
Other wild cards in the US Open women's doubles draw
The USTA is also allowing additional doubles wild cards, as mentioned here!
Sophie Chang and Angela Kulikov
Robin Montgomery and CoCo Vandeweghe
Katrina Scott and Elizabeth Mandlik
Peyton Stearns and Ashlyn Krueger
Hailey Baptiste and Whitney Osuigwe
Clervie Ngounoue and Reese Brantmeier
The doubles competition will take off on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. The 2022 US Open has attracted enormous attention since it is Serena Williams' last-ever tennis tournament.
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