Venus Williams is stepping back onto the clay court for the first time in five years, facing Spain's Kaitlin Quevedo in the opening round of the 2026 Madrid Open.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion received a wildcard for the tournament. Williams last competed on clay at the 2021 French Open, though she hasn't played on clay since then.
Williams enters the Madrid Open searching for her first singles victory of the season. She holds an 0-6 record in 2026 after first-round exits at Auckland, Hobart, the Australian Open, Austin, Indian Wells, and Miami. Her last singles win came at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open.
The former world No. 1 is currently 476th in the WTA rankings, after receiving wildcards for all seven tournaments she's entered this year.
Quevedo presents a challenging first-round matchup. The 20-year-old Spanish player enters after a success Billie Jean King Cup run, while also benefitting from home crowd support and familiarity with clay conditions.
The 45-year-old US legend last won a clay-court match at the 2019 Italian Open, when she defeated Elise Mertens in three sets. She subsequently dropped eight consecutive matches on the surface.
Williams has been practicing with Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto ahead of her opening match in Madrid, remaining one of tennis's most recognizable figures despite recent struggles.
How to Watch Venus Williams at the Madrid Open 2026
The Madrid Open runs from April 21st through May 2nd, with live coverage on The Tennis Channel.
