Williams Sisters Headline 2026 Cincinnati Open Women’s Wild Cards
The 2026 Cincinnati Open has announced its official women’s wild card recipients for the upcoming event, running August 8 to August 23, 2026 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Headlining the announcement is legendary tennis duo Serena Williams and Venus Williams, who have received a main draw doubles wild card. Additionally, Venus Williams has been granted a singles main draw wild card alongside a mix of Grand Slam champions, surging American contenders, and rising international stars.
Legendary Reunion: The Williams Sisters Return in Doubles
Tennis fans will witness history in Ohio as Serena and Venus Williams reunite on the court as a doubles team.
- Major Champions: Together, the sisters have captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals.
- Historic First: Although both sisters have long played in Ohio individually, 2026 marks the first time they will play as a doubles team at the Cincinnati Open.
- First Match Since 2022: This marks their first competitive doubles appearance together since the 2022 US Open.
Venus Williams will also compete in the singles draw. The 46-year-old former World No. 1 has won 49 career singles titles, including seven Grand Slam singles crowns and the 2000 Olympic singles gold medal. Holding a 12-10 career record in Cincinnati, Venus previously reached the tournament semifinals in 2012 and the quarterfinals in 2019.
Main Draw Singles Wild Cards: Proven Champions & Rising Talent
Alongside Venus Williams, six additional players received main draw singles wild cards:
1. Sloane Stephens (USA)
The 33-year-old American and 2017 US Open champion makes her return to Cincinnati for the first time since 2023. Stephens, a former World No. 3 with eight career singles titles, reached the Cincinnati semifinals in 2013.
2. Taylor Townsend (USA)
Townsend, who captured the Cincinnati doubles title in 2023, has surged back into the singles Top 100 after reaching her first WTA Tour final in Austin. She will also headline the doubles draw as part of the world No. 1 doubles team alongside partner Katerina Siniakova.
3. Darja Vidmanova (CZE)
The 23-year-old Czech standout is coming off her career-best WTA performance after reaching her first tour final in Memphis. At the University of Georgia, Vidmanova made collegiate history as the first Georgia player and only the third woman in NCAA history to achieve the NCAA Triple Crown (winning team, singles, and doubles titles).
4. Elvina Kalieva (USA)
The 23-year-old New York native recently reached her first WTA semifinal in Memphis and earned her biggest career title earlier this year at the World Tennis Tour W100 event in San Diego.
5. Caroline Dolehide (USA)
A two-time WTA singles finalist, the 27-year-old Chicago native enters her third Cincinnati Open singles draw after winning the W100 tournament in Evansville, Indiana.
6. Lois Boisson (FRA)
The 23-year-old French player made tennis headlines last year by becoming the first wild card in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros women’s singles semifinals. She will be making her official Cincinnati Open debut.
Qualifying Wild Cards Unveiled
The tournament also announced wild cards for the two-round qualifying tournament taking place August 11–12:
- Bianca Andreescu (CAN): The 2019 US Open champion.
- Robin Montgomery (USA): The 21-year-old American who captured her maiden WTA singles title in June.
- Akasha Urhobo (USA)
- Carol Young Suh Lee (USA)
- Jeline Vandromme (BEL)
2026 Cincinnati Open Women’s Wild Cards Summary
| Category | Player | Nation | Key Highlights |
| Doubles Main Draw | Serena Williams & Venus Williams | USA | 14-time Major Champions; 3x Olympic Gold Medalists |
| Singles Main Draw | Venus Williams | USA | 7-time Major Champion; Former World No. 1 |
| Singles Main Draw | Sloane Stephens | USA | 2017 US Open Champion; Former World No. 3 |
| Singles Main Draw | Taylor Townsend | USA | 2023 Cincy Doubles Champion; World No. 1 Doubles player |
| Singles Main Draw | Darja Vidmanova | CZE | Memphis Finalist; NCAA Triple Crown Winner |
| Singles Main Draw | Elvina Kalieva | USA | Memphis Semifinalist; W100 San Diego Champion |
| Singles Main Draw | Caroline Dolehide | USA | 2-time WTA Finalist; W100 Evansville Champion |
| Singles Main Draw | Lois Boisson | FRA | French Open Semifinalist; Cincy Debut |
| Qualifying Draw | Bianca Andreescu | CAN | 2019 US Open Champion |
| Qualifying Draw | Robin Montgomery | USA | First WTA Title Winner (June 2026) |
| Qualifying Draw | Akasha Urhobo | USA | Emerging Talent |
| Qualifying Draw | Carol Young Suh Lee | USA | Collegiate / Circuit Talent |
| Qualifying Draw | Jeline Vandromme | BEL | Emerging European Talent |
Tournament Schedule Details
The 2026 Cincinnati Open action begins with Community Weekend on August 8–9, offering family-friendly events and player practice sessions. Qualifying matches begin August 11, followed by Main Draw action. The tournament concludes during Finals Weekend on August 22–23, with both the men’s and women’s singles finals held on Sunday, August 23.
