Wild-card entry Venus Williams set for 24th Wimbledon

Venus Williams will compete in the singles draw at Wimbledon for a 24th time after receiving a wild-card entry on Wednesday.

She played at Wimbledon for the first time in 1997, losing in the first round. Three years later, she won her first of five Wimbledon singles titles and also was a four-time finalist. She also won the U.S. Open twice.

Williams last competed at Wimbledon in 2021, losing to Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in the second round.

A premier doubles player in her prime, Williams has six Wimbledon doubles titles.

Now, 43, Williams is ranked 697th in the world. She defeated 48th-ranked Camilia Giorgi of Italy in three sets at the Birmingham Classic on Monday in a Wimbledon tune-up match. She is scheduled to face No. 2 seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in the Round of 16 on Thursday.

Also among those receiving wild-card entries were Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, as well as Heather Watson and Katie Boulter of Great Britain. Svitolina, who recently return from a year-long absence during which she gave birth to her first child, reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.

On the men's side, David Goffin of Belgium received a wild-card entry. He is a two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist.

Play at Wimbledon begins July 3.