The Charlotte Invitational is set to return in 2025, bringing top-tier tennis back to the Queen City with an all-American lineup. Organized by the Charlotte Sports Foundation, the exhibition will take place on December 4 at the Spectrum Center, the same venue that drew a near-sellout crowd of 16,194 during its inaugural edition in 2024.
In its second year, the Charlotte Invitational will welcome back Frances Tiafoe and Madison Keys, who both played in last year’s event. Joining them in 2025 are Taylor Fritz, the current world No. 4, and Venus Williams, the 45-year-old tennis legend and multiple Grand Slam champion.
For the unversed, last year’s event saw appearances from Carlos Alcaraz and Sloane Stephens, with NFL stars like Panthers QB Andy Dalton and retired WR Steve Smith adding celebrity flair.
Charlotte Invitational 2025 Set to Feature an All-American Player Line-Up Including Venus Williams
For Venus, it’s a special return. The seven-time Grand Slam Champion last played in Charlotte 19 years ago, when she faced her sister Serena Williams in a 2006 exhibition match. And later in the year, she will once again take the court to face Madison Keys in an exhibition match.
Unlike her younger sister Serena, Venus Williams hasn’t officially retired from tennis. However, it’s become rare to see her compete in front of a crowd these days. A return to the tennis court was evident as Williams recently took to her Instagram and uploaded some stories.
View this post on Instagram
The seven-time Grand Slam champion shared three back-to-back posts from a recent practice session, each packed with subtle storytelling and a spark of inspiration. In the first story, Venus was seen dialed in at the net, fine-tuning her game as ‘Polvere e Gloria’ played in the background. Jannik Sinner’s voice echoed through the clip: “In our lives, there will be many first times. All you need to do is be yourself.”
The second story showed her mid-drill on the court, frozen in motion under a single, powerful caption, “Working”. Although Venus Williams hasn’t competed in over a year and even turned down a wildcard for Indian Wells earlier this season, calling it a “miscommunication,” she isn’t ready to walk away just yet.
Her recent appearance in the Roland Garros broadcast booth was a reminder of her deep connection to the sport and the energy she still brings to it. Venus last won a match in Cincinnati in 2023, and her last full season dates back to 2019. On the other hand, Madison Keys ended her 2024 season with a win over Sloane Stephens at the inaugural Charlotte Invitational.
Less than two months later, she captured her first Grand Slam singles title, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a hard-fought three-set final at the 2025 Australian Open. The breakthrough season has propelled Keys to a career-high ranking of World No. 7.
Fritz and Tiafoe Set for American Showdown
During her legendary career, Venus won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including five at Wimbledon, and reached World No. 1 in both singles and doubles. She hasn’t been ranked regularly in the top 100 since 2021 and has not played any official tournaments in 2025 so far.
Now, going to the men’s side of things, Frances Tiafoe will face world No. 4 Taylor Fritz in an electrifying match. Last year, the 2024 US Open semifinalist faced Taylor Fritz in an all-American semifinal, falling in five sets.
View this post on Instagram
Moreover, he remains a popular top 15 player and has played a key role in revitalizing the American men’s tennis scene in 2025, along with Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul.
The 2025 event is backed by major sponsors, including American Airlines, Belk, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, and Hendrick Automotive Group.
Broadcast details are still being finalized. In 2024, the event was produced by Raycom Sports and aired nationally on the Tennis Channel, locally on WSOC-TV, and in Spanish on Telemundo in the Charlotte area.
