Archive · 28 Aug 2026
US Open 2026 Draws Separate Venus and Serena Singles
The US Open is a major tennis tournament.
Venus Williams received a special invitation to play singles in 2026.
Her sister Serena Williams also returned, but she chose to play doubles instead of singles.
That means the sisters cannot play each other in the singles competition.
Venus will play Sofia Kenin in the first round.
Serena and Venus will compete together in doubles.
They last played a doubles match together in 2022 before reuniting recently.
Carlos Alcaraz will also return to singles after a wrist injury kept him out of major tournaments.
Venus Williams received a wildcard into the US Open singles draw at age 46.
Serena Williams chose to play doubles only, preventing a sisters’ singles matchup.
The United States Tennis Association awarded the remaining singles wildcard to Sofia Kenin.
Venus was randomly drawn against Kenin in the opening round.
Serena and Venus will reunite in doubles, while Carlos Alcaraz returns to singles after injury.
- Who
- Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Sofia Kenin, Carlos Alcaraz, and other leading tennis players.
- What
- The US Open 2026 draws were announced, including Venus Williams’ singles matchup and Serena Williams’ doubles return.
- When
- The draws were announced on Thursday; the article refers to the 2026 US Open.
- Where
- The tournament will be held at Flushing Meadows.
- Why
- Serena Williams chose to compete only in doubles, so she and Venus cannot meet in the women’s singles draw.
- Tournament
- US Open 2026
- Venus Williams
- Received a singles wildcard and will face Sofia Kenin in the first round.
- Serena Williams
- Returned to the US Open but chose to play doubles only.
- Williams sisters
- Have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and Olympic doubles gold medals at Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, and London 2012.
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Will open against Roman Safiullin in his first singles match since April after a right wrist injury.
- Women’s top seed
- Aryna Sabalenka will open against Camila Osorio.
- Men’s top seed
- Alexander Zverev became the No. 1 seed after Jannik Sinner withdrew with a knee injury.