Venus and Serena Williams will reunite in the Wimbledon doubles draw after receiving a wild card for the 2026 championships at the All England Club.
The legendary American sisters are bidding to write another chapter in their remarkable history at the grass-court grand slam.
It has been a decade since the iconic duo captured the last of their six doubles titles together in SW19.
The unseeded pairing will face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in the first round.
‘Ready to go’ after historic success
Venus, who also boasts five singles triumphs at the tournament between 2000 and 2008, expressed immense excitement about the upcoming campaign.
“It’s very special indeed,” said the 46-year-old.
“We have had quite a history here and it’s nice to be back in 2026, so ready to go.”
“I’m excited we’re playing together and I can’t wait until we hit the courts.”
“As soon as she wanted to play doubles and we were playing doubles, that’s how it works.”
Conquering nerves on the grandest stage
Despite an astonishing combined haul of 23 grand slam titles across singles and doubles, the former world number one acknowledged that pre-match anxiety remains a factor.
“Yeah everyone gets those things,” she added.
“It’s a part of being human and that’s what makes sport so exciting, being able to conquer your own humanity, to get to the next level.”
“That’s why we all watch sport and that’s why we sometimes win or lose.”
Serena prepares for singles comeback
Alongside her doubles commitments, seven-time singles champion Serena is preparing for her first individual appearance in the women’s event in four years.
The 44-year-old has been drawn against Australian world number 53 Maya Joint in her opening match.
When questioned about her younger sibling’s current form, the elder Williams sister remained firmly confident in her abilities.
“Can you walk over to the courts and watch her play? That’s probably your best bet,” she replied.
“There is no doubt that she has nothing to prove, at all.”
World number one Jannik Sinner has dismissed further questions regarding a player media boycott over prize money and welfare at Wimbledon after fractures emerged among leading competitors.
Several top professionals, including the Italian and Aryna Sabalenka, are pressuring Grand Slam organisers for increased financial compensation and a greater voice in tournament decision-making.
The group initiated their direct action at last month’s French Open by restricting pre-event media duties to just 15 minutes.
This specific time limit was chosen to symbolise the 15 per cent of tournament revenue that athletes estimate is broadly distributed as prize money.
Wimbledon response triggers escalation
The All England Club responded to player concerns by increasing their overall remuneration package by 20 per cent for this year’s grass-court championships.
Despite this significant financial boost, organisers were reportedly frustrated to learn that the media blackout would escalate during the opening week.
Campaigners are now demanding that 22 per cent of total tournament revenue is allocated directly to the players’ prize pot.
Protesting competitors intend to limit their post-match obligations to a brief press conference and two broadcast interviews lasting no longer than a quarter of an hour.
Sinner and Sabalenka stand firm
The reigning Australian Open champion restricted his English-speaking media duties to just six questions before shutting down the topic entirely.
He subsequently refused to explain why competitors had rejected Wimbledon’s proposal to establish a dedicated player council for welfare issues.
“I think it’s getting better, even though we are not at the point where we are 100 per cent happy.”
“It’s not about the money – not only about the money. It’s the whole scenario we take into consideration with welfare and everything else.”
While total tournament prize funds have more than doubled over the past decade, athletes maintain that these increases have failed to keep pace with soaring global revenues.
Two-time major winner Sabalenka described the recent financial adjustments as a positive starting point but urged organisers to reach a conclusive agreement.
“I really hope we can finally get to the table and really get it done, come to a conclusion that everyone is going to be happy with. I hope we’re not going to get to this boycotting again.”
Divisions emerge within player ranks
Advocates of the ongoing protest insist their primary motivation is to secure structural changes that will benefit lower-ranked professionals who struggle with gruelling tour expenses.
However, targeting the London major immediately following its proactive prize money hike has caused noticeable division within the locker room.
Australian number one Alex de Minaur and Germany’s Alexander Zverev are among the high-profile stars who have opted out of the Wimbledon action.
The Australian stated that while there was widespread unity among the playing group at Roland Garros, the current approach in London lacks unanimous support.
Emma Raducanu has raised serious doubts over her Wimbledon participation after cutting short a practice session and cancelling her scheduled media duties.
The 23-year-old British number one ended a practice set against Anna Kalinskaya prematurely on Saturday after falling 4-0 behind.
She left Court 3 approximately 10 minutes ahead of schedule with her right ankle heavily strapped.
Following her abrupt departure, the former US Open champion postponed a planned afternoon press conference at the All England Club.
Ankle concerns disrupt preparations
Fears regarding her physical condition had already surfaced earlier in the week when she was reportedly seen wearing a protective boot.
Saturday marked her first on-site training sessions in five days, having initially practised at Aorangi Park before the curtailed set.
The 30th seed was accompanied by her coaching team, including returning coach Andrew Richardson and physiotherapist Emma Stewart.
Recent workload takes a toll
The Grand Slam winner is believed to be nursing a minor injury sustained during her recent run to the final at Queen’s Club.
Rain delays at that tournament forced her to play three competitive matches within a gruelling 28-hour window.
This sudden spike in physical exertion followed a two-month absence from the tour earlier this year due to a post-viral illness.
Consequently, she withdrew from subsequent grass-court events in Nottingham and Eastbourne to prioritise her recovery.
Challenging opening week awaits
If passed fit, the home favourite is scheduled to open Monday’s play on Court 1 against world number 60 Antonia Ruzic.
Progressing past the first round would likely set up a daunting clash with 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Beyond that, world number one Aryna Sabalenka looms as a potential third-round opponent in SW19.
American second seed Madison Keys has secured her third Eastbourne International title with a hard-fought 7-5 6-4 straight-set victory over Germany’s Tatjana Maria.
The 31-year-old’s triumph places her alongside tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova as the only women to win the prestigious grass-court tournament three or more times.
Having previously lifted the trophy in 2014 and 2023, the reigning Australian Open champion did not drop a single set throughout her dominant week on the south coast.
“I won my first title here many, many years ago, so to win for a third time means the world to me.” Madison Keys
Powerful serving overcomes resilient defence
The world number 112 initially struggled against her American opponent’s formidable service game and frequent aggressive approaches to the net.
Despite squandering two set points with consecutive double faults, Keys quickly regained composure to break the 38-year-old’s defence and seal the opening set.
Maria, who recently claimed the Queen’s Club Championships title, effectively utilised her trademark sliced groundstrokes to fend off early break points in the second set.
However, a decisive breakthrough in the seventh game allowed the five-time consecutive tour finalist to serve out the match at the earliest opportunity.
“To do it in front of such amazing fans is the icing on the cake.” Madison Keys
Muchova triumphs as injured Osaka withdraws
In other WTA action, Karolina Muchova captured the Bad Homburg title following Naomi Osaka’s unfortunate withdrawal during their grass-court final.
The four-time Grand Slam champion received medical treatment for an ankle issue after losing the opening set 6-1, but was forced to retire just one game into the second.
This victory marks a second trophy of the year for the Czech player, propelling her back into the world’s top 10 rankings ahead of the next major.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who came to the match and I want to apologise for not being able to finish.” Naomi Osaka
Wimbledon preparations in sharp focus
Attention now turns rapidly to the All England Club as the grass-court season reaches its highly anticipated pinnacle.
The newly crowned Eastbourne champion will begin her Wimbledon campaign against compatriot Kayla Day, while 2022 semi-finalist Maria faces Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.
Osaka is currently scheduled to play France’s Elsa Jacquemot in her first-round match on Monday, pending a swift recovery from her ankle injury.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka suffered a major setback ahead of Wimbledon after retiring from the Bad Homburg final against Karolina Muchova with a foot injury.
The 28-year-old was competing in her first-ever grass-court final but pulled out while trailing the Czech player 6-1 1-0 in Germany.
Having already taken a medical timeout during the opening set, the Japanese star eventually signalled she could no longer continue before shaking hands with the umpire and her opponent.
Wimbledon hopes hanging in the balance
The poorly timed injury raises serious questions about her fitness for the All England Club, with the third major of the year starting on Monday.
Seeded 14th for the prestigious grass-court tournament, she is currently scheduled to face Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot in the opening round.
Despite her dominant pedigree on hard surfaces, the former world number one has traditionally struggled on grass and has never progressed beyond the third round in SW19.
Apology to the Bad Homburg crowd
Despite her evident disappointment, the 14th seed stayed on court to address the spectators during the trophy presentation ceremony.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who came to watch the match.”
“I apologise for not being able to finish, but this atmosphere was incredible the whole week.”
Aryna Sabalenka faces a crucial mental test ahead of Wimbledon following a dramatic emotional collapse at the French Open that has jeopardised her upcoming title bid.
The powerful Belarusian enters the upcoming grass-court grand slam in London as one of the WTA Tour’s most perplexing enigmas.
Despite boasting remarkable consistency by reaching the quarter-finals or better at her last 14 majors, she has recently struggled to maintain composure under intense pressure.
French Open collapse exposes mental fragility
This sudden vulnerability was starkly exposed during her recent exit from Roland-Garros at the hands of 25th seed Diana Shnaider.
In a deeply subdued performance on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the usually combative star lost 10 consecutive games to crash out of the tournament.
The competitor famous for her tiger tattoo and fierce on-court demeanour saw her trademark resistance inexplicably melt away without a whimper.
Searching for solutions before All England Club return
Addressing the media after her heavy defeat in Paris, the multiple-time major finalist offered a stark and bleak assessment of her current mindset.
“Just want to quit tennis right now, but we’ll see,” Sabalenka admitted.
“I actually have to step back and try to find a solution, because I just am so tired of me losing some matches not in the best way, just because I was overemotional.”
The seasoned professional acknowledged that she felt ready to fight before the match, making the sudden loss of control even more alarming.
“I just think that there is something in a specific moment, that I lose control over the match,” she explained.
As the hallowed gates of the All England Club prepare to open next week, the pressing question remains whether the tour leader can conquer her inner demons to mount a successful grass-court campaign.
Serena Williams has accepted a wild card to play singles at Wimbledon, marking her first Grand Slam singles appearance in nearly four years at the age of 44.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion stepped away from professional tennis in 2022 to focus on life outside of the sport.
However, speculation regarding a return intensified late last year when the American re-entered the stringent anti-doping testing pool.
Following recent doubles appearances on grass, the former world number one will now chance her arm in the main singles draw at the All England Club.
Surprising singles entry
Her singles entry comes as a slight shock, given she has only played two competitive doubles matches in the build-up to the prestigious tournament.
An opening doubles victory at Queen’s Club was cut short by partner Victoria Mboko’s injury, followed by a first-round defeat alongside Karolina Muchova in Berlin.
Despite the limited preparation, Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig admitted the return is a thrilling prospect for the sport.
“I just didn’t think she was going to come back that soon after hearing that interview, but I just think it’s really exciting.”
Monica Puig
A champion’s pedigree
Alongside her unexpected singles bid, the seven-time Wimbledon winner will also partner her sister Venus in the doubles competition.
The legendary sibling duo will enter the doubles tournament with a combined age of 90.
Puig emphasised that the returning star will not offer any opponents an easy passage through the draw despite her lengthy absence.
“She’s a great competitor so you know what to expect when you face her on court.”
Monica Puig
Entering a major tournament without playing a competitive singles match in almost 48 months represents a significant physical gamble.
Nevertheless, her unmatched pedigree on the London grass ensures her comeback will capture global attention.
Eighteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Chris Evert has confirmed her ovarian cancer has returned and will miss Wimbledon to undergo chemotherapy.
The 71-year-old American released a statement on Thursday detailing her diagnosis after undergoing recent CT and PET scans.
The former world number one has already undergone surgery as an initial step in her recovery and will step back from all professional commitments over the coming months.
‘Optimistic and determined’
Evert described the illness as relentless but insisted she remains positive as she prepares to begin her medical treatment.
“I have already undergone surgery as the first step in my treatment and recovery, and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks.”
“Because of this, I will not be attending Wimbledon this year, and I will step back from my professional commitments over the next few months to focus on my health.”
“Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined in continuing to fight this battle.”
The three-time All England Club champion will consequently miss her punditry duties at the upcoming grass-court major in London.
Previous health battles and support
The tennis icon was first diagnosed with the disease in 2022 following a preventive hysterectomy, which was prompted by the death of her sister Jeanne from the same illness.
Doctors initially believed the cancer would not return as it was caught early, but the Florida native experienced a recurrence in 2023 before seemingly overcoming it again earlier this year.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, the Hall of Famer claimed 157 singles titles during a dominant career before retiring in 1989.
Fellow tennis greats have rallied behind the legendary competitor following her latest health update.
Eighteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova expressed her unwavering support on social media.
“My friend Chrissie is a champion of champions and as such she will slay this monster again.”
Multiple-time major winner Stan Wawrinka, alongside active players Donna Vekic and Ajla Tomljanovic, also sent messages of encouragement to the American.