Venus Williams returns to DC Open as US Open plans begin to emerge

Venus Williams has added another wildcard and another tournament to her schedule after her participation in the upcoming DC Open was officially confirmed. The American will compete in the event at 46 years old as she continues to feature on the North American hard-court swing.

While attention in recent weeks has largely focused on her sister Serena Williams, who returned to competition after four years away during the Queen’s Club Championships, the elder Williams sister is also extending her professional career and will return to Washington, where she also competed a year ago as part of her US Open preparation.

It was in Washington that Venus recorded the most recent victory of her career: a surprising 6-3, 6-4 win over Peyton Stearns, who was world No. 35 at the time. The seven-time Grand Slam champion was playing her first tournament in five months, but arrived with enough motivation and sharpness to secure a victory that showed she could still compete at a high level.

This time, Venus appeared as part of the official DC Open announcement, which included several of the tournament’s headline names. Her inclusion confirms she will travel to compete during the North American hard-court swing and perhaps prepare for another appearance at the US Open.

The 2025 DC Open left positive signs for the former world No. 1, showing that she was still capable of producing victories against top-level opposition. However, results have not gone entirely her way since that win over Stearns. Since then, Williams has accumulated 10 consecutive defeats, winning only four sets during that period over the last year.

Her appearances have nevertheless remained consistent, increasing her travel schedule compared to previous years when she often focused on a single swing. In 2025, she competed in six tournaments, including appearances in Australia, the Sunshine Double and, more recently, the Madrid Open, where she played her first clay-court match since 2021.

In recent years, Venus has frequently used North American tournaments as preparation for the US Open, and the DC Open had already awarded her a wildcard one year ago. If Williams decides to add more tournaments to her schedule, the Cincinnati Open appears a logical option, having granted her wildcards on multiple occasions over the last few seasons.

Her appearance in Washington suggests that another US Open campaign remains a possibility, particularly given that her participation in smaller events has often been linked to building match fitness and competitive rhythm ahead of one of the biggest tournaments of the season. DC Open represents one of the most suitable opportunities to gain competitive repetitions under conditions similar to those found at Flushing Meadows.

With Serena Williams recently returning to the tour, speculation has naturally grown about a possible doubles reunion with Venus. The US Open would be an ideal stage for the iconic Williams sisters to team up once again, and if they decide to enter the tournament together, securing a wildcard would likely be a straightforward process given their status in the sport.

The DC Open announcement also featured several major names from both the ATP and WTA Tours. On the women’s side, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and rising American prospect Iva Jovic stand out among the confirmed names, alongside Canadians Victoria Mboko and Leylah Fernandez.

The event was also used to reveal several of the men set to compete in Washington, with many of the leading local stars confirming their participation. Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul headline the field, while Jack Draper’s presence is also notable.

Draper, absent for much of the last year and still facing uncertainty regarding Wimbledon, appears to be targeting the North American hard-court swing as his return objective. Currently outside the top 100, the Briton would be eligible to use his protected ranking following his lengthy injury absence.

Another notable inclusion is Stefanos Tsitsipas. With his current ranking sitting outside the top 80, he would not be able to gain direct entry into the tournament through ranking alone. It is therefore reasonable to assume that a wildcard arrangement may already be in place with tournament organisers.