Tennis legend, Venus Williams, has been awarded a wild card into the main draw of the 2026 Miami Open, which gets underway today at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.
The 45‑year‑old American, a three‑time champion at the WTA 1000 tournament, is among several players granted direct entry despite not qualifying by ranking, with former U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens also included on the wild card list.
Williams’ inclusion marks her 23rd appearance at the Miami Hard‑Court event, where she claimed titles in 1998, 1999 and 2001, the last of those triumphs coming 25 years ago.
While her career has been defined by Grand Slam success and longevity, recent seasons have been tougher on the veteran, who returns to Miami for the first time since a first‑round loss in 2024 to Diana Shnaider.
The elder Williams sister has struggled for wins in 2026, exiting in the first round of all her tournaments so far this season, continuing a challenging run of form.
Despite that, organisers have given her another opportunity to compete at one of tennis’ biggest stages.
Stephens, herself a former Miami Open champion, joins Williams among the women’s wild cards, adding further star power to a field that includes many of the world’s top players.
