Serena and Venus Williams are to play in the US Open women’s doubles tournament after they were granted a wildcard into the main draw.
The sisters have played doubles together in New York nine times, winning the title in 1999 and 2009, and last played there together in 2022 in Serena’s final tournament before “evolving away” from the sport.
However, 44-year-old Serena announced a sensational return to tennis this summer and will compete in the doubles draw again at her home slam four years on.
She and Venus renewed their doubles partnership earlier this year and were initially planning to compete in the Wimbledon women’s doubles, but Serena suffered a knee injury in her first-round singles defeat to Maya Joint and withdrew.
They teamed up in the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati for the first time, where they lost a three-set thriller to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns, while Serena entered the mixed doubles tournament in Flushing Meadows alongside reigning men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Despite her four-year hiatus and having played few matches on tour since her comeback Williams produced some of her trademark power and finesse as the pair reached the quarter-finals, eliminating doubles specialists Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool in their opening round before they were defeated by fourth seeds Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
Venus Williams meanwhile has played sparingly on the WTA Tour in the last few years and is on a 14-match losing streak in singles, but has enjoyed more success in doubles. The 46-year-old reached the quarter-finals of last year’s US Open partnering Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
The Williams sisters have won 14 major titles as a doubles pairing as well as three Olympic gold medals.
The sisters will begin their campaign in New York on either Thursday 3 September or Friday 4 September, with the women’s doubles final scheduled to take place on Friday 11 September.
Venus has also been granted a wildcard into the women’s singles but Serena will not play, with 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin taking the last wildcard spot.
Read MoreUS Open mixed doubles prize money, format and teams – including Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz knocked out of US Open mixed doubles in last eight
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova appeals against four-year ban
