Serena Williams’ final US Open has plenty of potential contenders

As Serena Williams lined up all of her ducks in a row for what is likely to be the final tournament of her career at the US Open, one particular question has lingered for weeks – would she reunite with her sister, Venus, in one final doubles competition for a fitting departure?

On Saturday the answer came as the Williams sisters received a wildcard into the doubles draw. Both of their singles careers have naturally received far greater attention but their doubles achievements are astounding, their 14 grand slam titles placing them second in the Open era for women’s doubles grand slam titles. Their 14-0 record in grand slam finals is peerless.

No matter what happens now, Serena Williams’s first-round match on Monday night against Danka Kovinic will not be the end but it remains an enormous moment as Williams tries to prolong her singles career as much as possible and find one final wind to remind the world of who she is.

Beyond the spectacle of Williams’s retirement the women’s draw is once again wide open. After such a dominant spring Iga Swiatek’s form has cooled and she continues to reckon with the continued weight of being No 1. Since her 37-0 run Swiatek has compiled a 6-4 record.

But she has spent most of this year giving a clear demonstration of what she is capable of and, even on fast courts with balls she detests, she stands as one of the top contenders as she looks to build up momentum anew in New York.

Others, including a resurgent Simona Halep who won in Toronto, Coco Gauff, Caroline Garcia and Jessica Pegula will contend. But, in reality, the draw is as things stood at Wimbledon this summer. Whoever rises to the occasion, playing clean, bold, attacking tennis on the fast US Open courts will win and there are