Defending champion Thiem to miss US Open; wildcard for Venus

TIL Desk Sports/ Austria’s Dominic Thiem will not defend his US Open title after having to pull out of the hardcourt major with a wrist injury, the world number six said on Wednesday.

Thiem, who suffered the injury in June at the Mallorca Open and was also forced to skip the grasscourt major at Wimbledon, said on Twitter that he will miss the rest of the 2021 season.

“The past six months, I’ve been following the medical advice, wearing the wrist splint, doing exercise to stay in shape… but then last week I hit a ball during training and started to feel some pain again,” said the 27-year-old.Venus Williams was awarded a wild card Wednesday to compete in her 23rd US Open, the United States Tennis Association announced.

Williams, 41, is a two-time winner at Flushing Meadows (2000, 2001) and has competed in the event every year since 2006. Her WTA ranking is No. 112, which is outside the top 104 who receive direct entry into the tournament.