With the US Open just a month away, hard-court season buzz is at its peak! Excitement is building ahead of Wimbledon, especially after the US Open dropped a star-studded, surprising roster for its latest mixed doubles format. Tennis fans will remember that announcement—now, with Venus Williams making her return, the anticipation has only grown. Looks like she’s set to make some serious noise in New York—teaming up with an old partner!

On Monday, tennis journalist José Morgado fired up X with some big news. The USTA revealed an all-new set of mixed doubles pairings for this year’s US Open draw. The lineup now features eight direct entries and eight wild cards, bringing fresh energy and plenty of surprises. Among the headliners, Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka instantly grabbed everyone’s attention! The pair, while now good friends, were once the talk of the town for their rumored relationship back in 2021!

But these new teams come at a price. Two high-profile partnerships are now out: Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa—a duo fans will miss. Also gone are Zheng Qinwen and Jack Draper, whose promise had everyone excited. However, the rest of the lineup might just make up for the absence!

Other newly announced duos are just as intriguing. Karolina Muchova will team up with Andrey Rublev. Katie Boutler pairs with her fiancé Alex De Minaur. Donna Vekic joins forces with Hubert Hurkacz. Lastly, Gabriela Dabrowski partners with Felix Auger-Aliassime. And don’t miss the powerhouse combo: both world number ones, Katerina Siniakova and Marcelo Arevalo.

With these bold changes, the 2025 US Open mixed doubles draw promises star power and surprises. Fresh-faced teams are ready to steal the spotlight. With Paula and Stefanos out of the mix, their breakup came as a shocker to everyone! The pair had been together since 2023. Albeit they broke up last year around this time, they reunited to play mixed doubles at the 2024 US Open. This year, it looks like Venus and Opelka could be the highlight!

If you didn’t know, Venus Williams and the American ATP pro have sparked dating rumors for years, often seen together both at tennis events and art galleries. Their close friendship and shared appearances fueled ongoing speculation, especially when Venus was spotted cheering for Opelka courtside.

However, Williams has consistently denied the gossip, even responding playfully in a 2021 Instagram Q&A with, “No @ReillyOpelka shot me down.” Despite the persistent rumors, she’s been dating Italian actor Andrea Preti since 2024, and the pair have made several public appearances together this year. Even sparking engagement rumors between the two, which Venus subtly addressed in May!

For now, Williams will have her eye on her current tournament at the Washington DC Open! She expressed that she hopes to just “enjoy” her time back on the court after 16 months! And she did hint at a possible appearance at the upcoming Grand Slam!

Venus Williams talks about what’s next!

On Sunday, the excitement was palpable ahead of Williams’ big return at the DC Open. In the pre-match press conference, the seven-time Grand Slam champ flashed her trademark poise, sharing her mindset before taking on Peyton Stearns.

That set the stage for a juicy question—would she play more tournaments this year? Venus didn’t miss a beat. “I’m just here for now, and who knows? Maybe there’s more. Like I said, I hold my cards close, but at the moment, I’m focused on just this. And I haven’t played in a year; there’s no doubt I can play tennis. But obviously, coming back to play matches, it takes time to get in the swing of things. I definitely feel I’ll play well. I’m still the same player.” Her honesty landed well—and so did her comeback.

She wasted no time proving it. Venus smashed her first professional match in 16 months, teaming up with Hailey Baptiste in doubles. The duo fought back from a 1-3 deficit in the first set, catching fire to win 11 of the next 12 games. They rolled over Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 6-1, bringing the crowd to their feet against the 2014 Wimbledon runner-up and her young partner.

Now, all eyes are on Venus as she turns her focus to singles. Can she keep the magic rolling? If her doubles debut is any sign, fans have every reason to be buzzing for what comes next. Drop your thoughts in the comments—will Venus be lifting another trophy soon?