Venus Williams is set to compete at her first clay court event since the 2021 Roland Garros at the upcoming Madrid Open.
Williams received a wild card for the Madrid Open and the Spanish Masters event will be her sixth tournament of 2026.
The American icon is yet to win a singles match this season, having performed at the Australian Open and the Sunshine Double.
The star has already arrived in Madrid as she looks for her first win of the season and she’s been spotted hitting the practice courts.
Who Venus Williams has been practising with in Madrid
Williams has been spotted working alongside Elisabetta Cocciaretto as she prepares for her first match on the clay.
The Italian has enjoyed an impressive season so far, which has seen her crack back into the top 40 of the WTA Tour rankings.
It’s the end of the 2026 season… How many matches has Venus Williams won this year? Where is she ranked? Let us know in the comments👇
Cocciaretto started her season by winning the Hobart International as a qualifier, in the same tournament Williams was knocked out in the first round of.
The Italian’s season has seen her pick up victories against Iva Jovic, who she beat in the Hobart final, as well as Coco Gauff, who Cocciaretto beat in Qatar.
Williams will be hoping some of Cocciaretto’s red-hot form will rub off on her as she looks for her first win of the year.
Who will Venus Williams and Elisabetta Cocciaretto play in Madrid?
Williams is set to play her first match against Kaitlin Quevedo in Madrid, another player who was awarded a wild card.
The Spanish star is currently ranked outside the top 100, but she did reach the round of 16 at the ASB Classic at the start of the year.
Who is your favourite for the Madrid Open? 🤔
It’s arguably Williams’ best chance of the year to secure a win although Quevedo will have home advantage on the Spanish clay.
Cocciaretto, meanwhile, will begin her Madrid Open campaign against an as-yet-unnamed qualifier at the event.
The Italian has been drawn in the same section of the draw as Iga Swiatek, Leylah Fernandez, Ann Li, and Jovic, so it will be tough going for her.
