Williams will be the oldest singles player at the US Open since Renee Richards in 1981. She will also compete in the mixed doubles with "serving machine" Reilly Opelka.

Williams underwent surgery to remove fibroids and missed most of the 2024 season. She returned to competition at the DC Open in Washington last month, marking her first WTA Tour victory in 16 months by defeating Payton Stearns. Williams became the oldest player to win a singles match on the tour since Martina Navratilova (47 at Wimbledon 2004).

Venus Williams during her match against Stearns at the DC Open in Washington, 7/2025. _Photo: Reuters_

Williams is a two-time US Open champion, having won the title in 2000 and 2001. Her appearance at Flushing Meadows later this month will mark her 25th time competing in the final Grand Slam of the year. Her sister, Serena Williams, a six-time US Open champion and winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, retired after the 2022 US Open.

The 2025 US Open boasts a record-breaking $90 million prize pool, a 20% increase from last year. The singles champions will each receive a record $5 million, a 39% increase.

This year also marks the first time the singles competition will begin on Sunday, 24/8, extending the tournament from 14 to 15 days. The mixed doubles event will take place over two days, 19/8-20/8, with the winning pair receiving $1 million.

Williams and Opelka will face competition from other notable pairs, including Carlos Alcaraz/Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic/Olga Danilovic, Jannik Sinner/Emma Navarro, Casper Ruud/Iga Swiatek, and Ben Shelton/Taylor Townsend.

Vy Anh