Serena and Venus Williams will compete together at Wimbledon for the first time in years after tournament organizers awarded the sisters a doubles wild card, setting up one of the most anticipated storylines at the All England Club when play begins on June 29.
The announcement came on Tuesday and follows Serena’s recent return to competitive tennis after nearly four years away from the sport. Venus, who has continued to compete sporadically, turns 46 this week. Together they bring a combined age of 90 and a combined record at Wimbledon that remains unmatched in the modern era of the game.
A record that needs no introduction
The Williams sisters have won six Wimbledon doubles titles together, a figure that ties the all-time record for most titles as a doubles pair in the women’s draw at the tournament, shared with a partnership that dominated the event in the early decades of the 20th century. Their first two Wimbledon doubles titles, won in 2000 and 2002, also came as wild cards, lending the current invitation a certain historical symmetry.
Their last doubles title at Wimbledon came in 2016. Their most recent appearance together as a doubles pair anywhere came at the 2022 US Open, where they lost in the opening round in what was the first time they had played doubles together in four and a half years.
Individually, their records at the All England Club are equally formidable. Serena holds seven Wimbledon singles titles. Venus holds five. Serena also claimed a mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1998 and a singles gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, while the sisters won doubles gold at those same Games. Combined across all categories, their trophies and medals at or connected to the Wimbledon grass total 21.
Serena’s singles future still an open question
Wimbledon left one of its eight women’s singles wild card spots listed as to be announced, leaving open the possibility that Serena could also enter the singles draw. She has not ruled out a return to singles competition, and the deliberate vacancy in the wild card list suggests organizers may be preserving that option.
Serena’s return to the tour has been gradual. She won her doubles match at Queen’s Club in London last week alongside a young partner before that partnership ended when the partner withdrew with a knee injury. She was scheduled to play doubles at the Berlin Open this week with a different partner, suggesting her preparation for Wimbledon is continuing on multiple fronts.
A broader wild card list with notable names
Beyond the Williams sisters, the Wimbledon wild card announcements included several other notable selections. On the men’s side, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka received an invitation in what is expected to be one of his final major appearances before retiring at year’s end. Grigor Dimitrov, who pushed the eventual champion to the brink at last year’s tournament before a pectoral injury forced him to retire mid-match, also received a singles wild card despite a current ranking well outside the top 100.
The men’s doubles wild card went to a pairing of Alexander Bublik and Nick Kyrgios, the latter of whom reached the Wimbledon singles final in 2022. Two additional men’s singles wild card spots remain open.
A French Open finalist received a women’s singles wild card alongside six British players, reflecting the tournament’s tradition of supporting domestic talent. Wimbledon begins June 29.
