Michael Venus to play against Venus Williams at Wimbledon

It will be Venus against Venus in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.

New Zealand’s Michael Venus has entered the mixed doubles with Alicja Rosolska from Poland and they’ve been drawn against Venus Williams and Jamie Murray in the first round. 

It will be the first time the two Venus’s have ever played against each other and it’s sure to be a match that gets plenty of attention, with it possibly being the final time Williams plays at Wimbledon, depending on the result.

Although Venus’s exploits at Wimbledon have been overtaken by her sister Serena, she is still one of the all times greats at the grass court tournament, having won the singles title at Wimbledon on five occasions and the ladies doubles six times.

The mixed doubles at Wimbledon is one of the few trophies Venus is yet to lift, with her best result previously being in 2006 when she lost in the final, partnering Bob Bryan.

The 42-year-old is only playing in the mixed doubles at this year’s Championships and she was given a wildcard to team up with Andy Murray’s brother.

Given the high profile of Williams and Murray, the match will be put on one of the show courts.

Meanwhile, Erin Routliffe has teamed up with Germany’s Andreas Mies for the mixed doubles and they have also been drawn against opponents who were given a wildcard, although not ones with the same profile as Williams and Murray.

Routliffe and Mies will play against veteran Croatian Ivan Dodig and Latisha Chan from Taiwan in the first round.

The mixed doubles begins on Friday, with the first round played over two days.