Serena and Venus Williams to play doubles together at Wimbledon

LONDON (AP) — Serena and Venus Williams are bringing their doubles partnership back at Wimbledon.

The All England Club announced a doubles wild card invitation on Tuesday for the sisters to the tournament which starts in less than two weeks.

The move comes after 44-year-old Serena recently returned to competition after nearly four years away from professional tennis.

Venus, who has still been competing sporadically, turns 46 on Wednesday.

The Williams sisters have won 14 Grand Slam titles together in doubles, including six at Wimbledon — the first of them in 2000 and the last in 2016.

Serena won her first doubles match with partner Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club in London last week and was slated to play doubles with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Open later Tuesday.

The Williams sisters last played doubles together at the 2022 U.S. Open, where they lost their opening match. That was the first time they played doubles together in 4 ½ years.

Serena and Mboko won their opening match at Queen’s Club but then had to withdraw after Mboko injured her knee in a singles match.

Serena has not ruled out a return in singles, too, and one of the eight wild card spots for women’s singles was left as “to be announced.”

Recent French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska received a singles wild card, as did six British women: Harriet Dart, Alicia Dudeney, Hannah Klugman, Mika Stojsavljevic, Katie Swan, and Mimi Xu.

Men’s singles wild cards went to Stan Wawrinka and Grigor Dimitrov and four British players: Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Jack Pinnington Jones and Toby Samuel.

Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion whose best result at Wimbledon was reaching the quarterfinals twice, plans to retire at the end of the year.

Dimotrov led eventual champion Jannik Sinner two sets to none in the round of 16 last year before having to retire early in the third due to an injured pectoral muscle. Dimitrov is now ranked No. 169.

Two more men’s singles wild cards were also left open.

In men’s doubles, a wild card went to the pairing of Alexander Bublik and Nick Kyrgios. Kyrgios was a singles finalist in 2022.

Matteo Berrettini, a Wimbledon finalist in 2021, was left off the list despite a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open. He’s ranked No. 49 but was ranked outside the top 100 when Wimbledon’s entry list was established. Still, Berrettini could get direct entry into the main draw depending on withdrawals.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

FILE -Serena Williams, right, and her sister Venus of the U.S celebrate after winning their women's doubles match against Andreja Klepac and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia on day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, June 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland), File)

FILE -Venus Williams, left, and sister Serena talk together, during their Women's Doubles match against Irina Spirlea and Caroline Vis, at Wimbledon, July 4, 2000. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Serena Williams of the United States, hits a return as she and playing partner Victoria Mboko of Canada play against Nicole Melichar-Martinez of Canada and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand during their first round doubles match at the Queen's Club tennis championships in London, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

FILE -Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams of the U.S hold their trophies after winning the women's doubles final against Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazahkstan and Timea Babos of Hungary on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland, File)

MADRID (AP) — Antonio Rüdiger is “not done” at Real Madrid as the German defender stays for another season, signing a one-year contract extension while at the World Cup and pledging his support for the team's rebuild under Jose Mourinho.

Rüdiger was at the end of the four-year contract he signed when he joined Madrid from Chelsea in 2022 and reportedly had rival offers from Saudi Arabia.

“I am not done here,” he wrote on social media. “​Renewing my journey with Real Madrid is a proud moment, but more than anything, it’s a commitment to turning things around together with my teammates.”

The 33-year-old German won the Spanish league and Champions League at Madrid in 2024. Back-to-back seasons without a trophy mean Madrid is under pressure to improve next season as Mourinho returns as coach.

Rüdiger played 26 games in all competitions for Madrid last season as injuries limited his availability.

​"We are going through a demanding phase. The setbacks have tested us, but this is exactly where I want to be," he said. “​Some people may have written me off after my injuries but that only motivated me even more. So, thank you for that."

The announcement of Rüdiger's new deal came a day after Madrid signed left back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.

Rüdiger is with Germany at the World Cup and came off the bench in the opening 7-1 win over Curaçao as Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck started in the center of the German defense.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger, right, congratulates Federico Valverde after scoring during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Elche CF, in Madrid, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)