Venus Williams confirms surprise Grand Slam return in glitzy US Open announcement

Venus Williams will make a surprise return to the US Open aged 45 later this year. The tennis icon is the latest name to be added to a glitzy entry list in a reimagined mixed doubles tournament at Flushing Meadows.

Several big-name stars have signed up for the US Open's mixed doubles draw, which will feature streamlined four-game sets. Carlos Alcaraz is partnering Emma Raducanu in one of many link-ups for fans to get excited about. A new list of entrants has also confirmed that WTA legend Williams will play after making her return to the professional circuit this week. The two-time US Open singles champion and two-time doubles winner will feature alongside fellow American Reilly Opelka in New York.

Williams dominated women's tennis alongside her sister Serena during the 1990s and 2000s. She will hope to make a splash at the US Open, which is offering its mixed doubles champions a bumber £750,000 pay day as part of its major revamp.

A return to the WTA Tour has been rumoured to a possibility for Williams for some time. She has not played competitively for 16 months, but is competing at the Washington Open this week. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion will play in both the singles and doubles draws.

Asked about her return, Williams said: "Most of the time I don't [take up the offer to play as a wild card].But this time I had been hitting the ball. And of course I love the game and the hard courts, it's my favourite surface, what I feel comfortable on. So all those different factors.

"I definitely feel I'll play well. I'm still the same player. I'm a big hitter. I hit big. This is my brand. So it's about hitting big and actually putting it in. So this will be my effort: put it in the court. That's my main goal."

Meanwhile, British star Katie Boulter has also been added to the US Open mixed doubles draw and will play alongside fiance Alex De Minaur for the first time. The couple had been keen to play alongside each other but were unsure whether they would be allowed after missing the initial deadline for applications.

Speaking earlier this summer, Australian No. 1 De Minaur said: "We're definitely going to be keen to try and play if they allow us to.

"If that's an option, we'd definitely be keen. It's not really the normal set of rules, obviously it's incredibly early for them to already have a cut-off."

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