Tennis-Williams sisters awarded doubles wild card for Cincinnati Open

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 1, 2022 Venus Williams and Serena Williams of the U.S. after losing their women's doubles first round match against Czech Republic's Linda Fruhvirtova and Lucie Hradecka REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

Aug 3 (Reuters) - ⁠Serena Williams and Venus Williams are ⁠set to make their Cincinnati Open ‌doubles debut this month after being awarded a wild card on Monday, marking their ​return to doubles action for ⁠the first time ⁠since 2022.

The Williams sisters have won 14 ⁠major ‌doubles titles, including six at Wimbledon, plus three Olympic ⁠gold medals.

They last played doubles together ​at the ‌2022 U.S. Open, where they lost ⁠to ​Czechs Lucie HradeckaandLinda Noskova.

Last month, the sisters had to withdraw from the doubles ⁠draw at Wimbledon as ​Serena, 44, dealt with a knee injury.

The American's highly anticipated return to Grand ⁠Slam tennis after four years away was ended at Wimbledon in a first-round loss to Australian youngster Maya Joint ​in the singles.

Venus, ⁠46, has received a singles wild card ​for the August ‌11 to 23 tournament ​in Cincinnati.

(Reporting by Nicole Fernandes in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)