Serena and Venus Williams Return to Doubles at 2026 Cincinnati Open

Serena and Venus Williams have been awarded a doubles wildcard for the 2026 Cincinnati Open, marking their first appearance as a team since the 2022 US Open. The announcement comes after Serena's return to professional tennis at Wimbledon in July, where a knee injury had previously forced the sisters to withdraw from a scheduled doubles reunion. In addition to their doubles entry, 46-year-old Venus Williams has also received a singles wildcard for the tournament, which serves as a key tune-up event ahead of the US Open in late August. The legendary duo last competed together at the 2022 US Open, where they were defeated by Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic. Their participation in the Ohio hard-court tournament signifies the first time the sisters will compete as a doubles pairing at this specific event, and it occurs just weeks before the final Grand Slam of the year commences in New York on August 31. The Cincinnati comeback follows a planned reunion that was canceled earlier in the summer. Both sisters were slated to play doubles at Wimbledon in July but had to withdraw from the draw after 44-year-old Serena sustained a knee injury. This physical setback also affected her singles campaign, which concluded with a first-round loss to Australian prospect Maya Joint. Tournament organizers have confirmed that Venus will also be competing in the singles draw at Cincinnati. The 46-year-old athlete possesses a notable 12-10 career record at the Cincinnati venue and previously reached the semifinals there in 2012. The inclusion of the Williams sisters in the tournament field is expected to inject significant star power into the summer tennis schedule. Collectively, the sisters have achieved remarkable success, capturing 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals throughout their careers. The upcoming appearance in Cincinnati is poised to serve as a critical preparation period for both athletes. Beyond their sibling reunion in Ohio, Venus Williams is already confirmed to participate in mixed doubles at the US Open, partnering with Alexander Bublik. The main draw action for the Cincinnati tournament is scheduled to begin shortly, offering fans a highly anticipated glimpse of the iconic duo back on court together. The Cincinnati Open, officially known as the Western & Southern Open, is an annual professional tennis tournament played on hard courts. It is one of the oldest professional tennis tournaments in the United States and is part of the US Open Series, a series of hard court tournaments leading up to the US Open. The tournament features both men's and women's singles and doubles competitions. The addition of the Williams sisters to the doubles draw, alongside Venus's singles wildcard, underscores the tournament's prestige and its role in attracting top talent for pre-US Open preparation. Their combined experience and championship pedigree make them a formidable presence, even as they navigate their return to competitive play.