"It’s the only thing I’ve never accomplished": Venus Williams shares big objectives for US Open mixed doubles event

Former world number one Venus Williams has shared her objectives about playing in the US Open mixed doubles event. The fourth and the final Grand Slam of the year will be an interesting one for the fans, as for the first time ever, it will be played in two different parts.

The first part will feature the mixed doubles event, which will be worked as a standalone event. The tournament will have prize money worth $1 million, which forced some of the best players in the world to put their hands in them and feature in the competition.

The tournament will be played in three days and will consist of 16 teams. Eight of those directly qualified for the mega-event based on their rankings in the singles category, whereas the other eight qualified after receiving a wildcard entry. One of those teams will feature former world number one Venus, who will be partnering with fellow American Reilly Opelka.

The competition is going to be an interesting one for Venus, who has not featured in any major event since the 2023 US Open. Venus returned to the court earlier this year after a gap of more than 12 months. She featured in the DC Open, where she defeated Peyton Stearns in the first round in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4. In the second round, Venus lost to Magdalena Frech in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2. Venus’ most recent appearance was at the Cincinnati Open, where she lost to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4.

On the other hand, her partner Opelka is going through a decent time in the singles category where he has won 21 out of 37 matches. His most recent appearance also came in the Cincinnati Open where his journey ended after losing in the third round to Argentina’s Francisco Comesana with a score of 6-7, 6-4, 7-5. Venus has spoken to Tribuna where she stated that her objective in the upcoming mega-event will be to play in the final of the competition, some thing she has never done in her career.

"Usually, I don’t play much after the US Open, so you probably won’t see me after the tournament this year,” said Venus. “But for next year, don’t count me out too much! The only major final I’ve never played is the mixed doubles final at the US Open. So, it’s kind of a priority for me to play it, because it’s the only thing I’ve never accomplished in tennis. I’ve always been very close to the winner’s circle in everything I’ve done throughout my career.”

Venus has a fabulous record while playing in the mixed doubles category. She lifted two Grand Slam titles, and both of them came way back in 1998. Venus first lifted the Australian Open playing with fellow American Justin Gimelstob as the two defeated the pair of the Czech Republic’s Helena Sukova and Cyril Suk in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-1. A few months later, Venus lifted her second Grand Slam title in the mixed doubles category as she won the French Open along with Gimelstob. The two defeated the pair of Venus’ sister Serena and Argentina’s Luis Lobo in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4.

Venus also played in the final of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2006, but she and her partner Bob Bryan lost to the pair of Andy Ram and Vera Zvonareva in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2. Venus’ best appearance in the mixed doubles category at the US Open came in 1998, where she and Gimelstob lost in the quarterfinals to the pair of Australia’s Rennae Stubbs and America’s Jim Grabb with a score of 6-2, 7-6. On the other hand, Venus’s partner this year, Opelka, has never featured in the mixed doubles category at any major event.