The Williams sisters’ comeback has reached another major moment. After reuniting on the doubles court at the Cincinnati Open last week for the first time in nearly four years and the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s mixed doubles match with Carlos Alcaraz, the US Open has announced that Venus and Serena Williams have received a wildcard for the women’s doubles draw.
And fans have mixed reactions to the news, with many celebrating the return of the iconic duo while others question their age and current form.
Serena Williams and Venus Williams Return to US Open Doubles as Fans React
It has been a few years since the Williams sisters last shared a Grand Slam doubles court. Their last appearance together came at the 2022 US Open, which many thought would be their final match as a team.
However, 2026 has brought an unexpected comeback. Serena, 44, returned to court in the grass season, played doubles alongside her sister in Cincinnati, and at Arthur Ashe Stadium, partnered with Alcaraz in the star-studded mixed doubles event, reaching the quarterfinals. Venus, 46, is still entered in the singles draw. Together, the sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including US Open titles in 1999 and 2009.
Now, they are set to play the women’s doubles in the final Grand Slam of the year.
The sister duo is BACK!
Serena and Venus Williams have received a wild card into the 2026 US Open Women’s Doubles Championship. pic.twitter.com/YD9traRQ8d
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2026
However, the wildcard announcement sparked mixed reactions on social media, with fans expressing excitement and debating the tournament’s choice to give them wildcards.
For many, it felt strange to see the sisters enter as wildcards, as they have spent weeks at World No. 1 and dominating women’s doubles for more than a decade.
A fan on X summed up that feeling, writing, “It’s crazy to see them as a wildcard for all the years they ran the sport.”
Damn I wanted her to play with Coco!!!!
— Dutty Skies, CMO, Spirit Airlines (@InventingSy) August 26, 2026
Others had different ideas for Serena’s partner, with one user saying, “Damn I wanted her to play with Coco!!!!”
It’s crazy to see them as a wildcard for all the years they ran the sport.
— Terry Walker (@TerribleTerry83) August 26, 2026
Meanwhile, one shifted the discussion to another controversial wildcard decision, asking, “What about Stan Wawrinka?”
The US Open initially faced criticism for leaving out the 2016 champion in his retirement year, but Patrick Kypson’s withdrawal opened up the final wild card, allowing the 41-year-old Wawrinka to return to Flushing Meadows, much to the delight of tennis fans.
The biggest question among fans is whether the Williams sisters can actually challenge for the title. Serena’s recent mixed doubles performance appears to have changed the conversation, with an X user writing, “Serena deff made the decision post how well she played in mixed!”
Alongside the seven-time major champion, she won the opening match 5-3, 4-1 over Great Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe. However, their run ended in the quarterfinals, as Italy’s Flavio Cobolli and Swiss partner Belinda Bencic won 5-4 (7-4), 4-1 to book a spot in Wednesday’s semifinals.
However, some fans remain doubtful about how the sisters will perform as a team: “The way Serena could actually do something in this category, but mumma vee might tank the ship 😭.”
Venus has played only sparingly on the WTA Tour in recent years and is currently on a 14-match losing streak in singles. However, she has enjoyed more success in doubles, reaching the quarterfinals of last year’s US Open alongside Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
The US Open main draw begins on August 30 at Flushing Meadows, with the official draw ceremony set for Thursday, August 27, at 12 p.m. ET.
