Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin get Cincinnati wild cards

42-year-old Venus Williams will play three events before the US Open as she returns from a one-year layoff

Venus Williams at the Mutua Madrid Open 2021 in Madrid, Spain Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

July 29, 2022

There’s going to be no half-measures for 42-year-old Venus Williams as she mounts a comeback to the tour during the US summer swing.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who has not played a singles match since the Chicago Open last August, has added the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati to her summer schedule with a wild card entry.

Williams already has wild cards for the Citi Open in Washington next week and the National Bank Open in Toronto the week after.

It is likely that the American will also get a wild card entry to play the US Open, a tournament she has won twice over her illustrious career.

Venus Williams will be making her ninth appearance in singles in Cincinnati with a semi-final finish being her best result.

On Thursday, organizers also announced that two other former Grand Slam winners – 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, and 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens – were also awarded wild cards.

They. Are. Back. 🤩#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/gsiB9fg6c6
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) July 28, 2022

Kenin is returning to the tour after a fourth-month layoff due to a foot injury and is currently ranked 419 in the world while Stephens, ranked No 53 in the world, reached the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros in June.

The trio of Major winners join a packed women’s field which already includes the top 39 ranked women in the world and Serena Williams, who used her protected ranking to enter the draw. The event already features five previous champions and 16 Grand Slam winners.

Two additional wild cards have yet to be announced in the women’s draw. On the men’s side, Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios has been announced as a wild card entrant.