Venus Williams to compete in Guangzhou Open with wildcard entries

Venus Williams Janice Tjen Guangzhou Open WTA Tour tennis wildcards

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been awarded wildcards for both singles and doubles at the 2026 Guangzhou Open. The tournament is scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 1 in China.

In the doubles category, Williams will partner with Indonesian player Janice Tjen. Tjen, currently ranked 49th in the world, is the defending doubles champion at the event. This marks Williams' first appearance on the WTA Tour in Asia since competing in Tianjin in 2019.

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. While the tournament provides a platform for the veteran player, some fans have expressed criticism on social media regarding the use of wildcards for players struggling with recent results. Williams is currently seeking her first singles victory of the 2026 season following a series of losses in recent tournaments.