
Venus Williams handed US Open wild card at the age of 45
Wild card spots secured for these 8⃣ women! pic.twitter.com/Ry24Uf0HNK
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 13, 2025
Now the former world number one is set to become the oldest singles player to compete at Flushing Meadows since Renee Richards, aged 47 in 1981.
It will be Williams' 25th appearance at the New York major, 25 years after she first won it in 2000.
She is also on the entry list for the new-look mixed doubles event alongside another American, Reilly Opelka.
Williams' sister Serena, who won six US Opens among her 23 grand slam titles, retired after the tournament in 2022.

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Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Premier League clubs to have final say on playing matches abroad as vote option emerges
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ITV News
12 hours ago
- ITV News
Bristol Bears sign Louis Rees-Zammit on return to rugby union
Bristol Bears have signed Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit for the 2026-26 Prem Rugby Season, on his return to rugby union after 18 months pursuing a career in American football. The 24-year-old, who left the sport in January 2024, announced in August that he would be returning, following a failed attempt to break into the NFL. Rees-Zammit was on the training squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, but never played in a regular-season game. Capped 32 times by Wales, Rees-Zammit spent six years at Bristol's local rivals Gloucester before joining the NFL's International Player Pathway. Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said Bristol Bears are "thrilled" to welcome Rees-Zammit back to rugby union. 'Louis is a world-class player," he said. 'He has the drive and ambition to be one of the best back-three players in the world, and his goals align perfectly with our ambitions as a club. 'At just 24 years old, we know the athlete and competitor he is. The way we play and the way he wants to play fit seamlessly together, and we're looking forward to working with him when he joins the group tomorrow.' Rees-Zammit said: 'Bristol Bears was the obvious choice for me. The style of rugby the team play – all about entertaining the fans and growing the game – perfectly aligns to how I want to play and how I express myself on and off the field. 'I want to get fans out of their seats, create exciting moments and help people fall in the love with the game." He'll join up with the Bristol squad on Saturday 16 August, with their Prem season starting on 28 September against Leicester.


Wales Online
13 hours ago
- Wales Online
Louis Rees-Zammit signs for Bristol Bears and makes clear statement
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