43-year-old Venus Williams pulls off a stunning upset at Birmingham Open – can she qualify for Wimbledon 2023 as a Wildcard?

Venus Williams beat Italy’s Camila Giorgi 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 in the first round of the Birmingham Open – can she qualify for 2023 Wimbledon as a wildcard?

Venus Williams is back with a bang and she is peaking at the perfect time – just ahead of Wimbledon 2023. Williams made a comeback from a six-month-long layoff injury last week at the Hertogenbosch event but lost in the first round itself. However, she seems to have got her mojo back and pulled off a stunning upset against World No.48 Camila Giorgi.

Williams registered a thrilling victory in a marathon encounter that lasted over three hours. This win puts the US icon very much in contention of receiving a main draw Wildcard for the Wimbledon Championships which is scheduled to begin on July 3. Williams is a seven-time Grand Slam champion and the tally includes 5 Wimbledon singles titles.

This was Williams’ first victory over a top 50-ranked player in nearly four years. She is coming off a six-month gap due to an injury she sustained in Auckland earlier this year and this victory will be a major confidence booster ahead of the Wimbledon Championships.

How many wildcards are there in Wimbledon?

The 2023 Wimbledon Championships are scheduled to take place from July 3 to July 16. The tournament organizers typically allocate a few wildcards to give players who do not have a high enough ranking a chance to participate. These wildcards are often given to promising young players, local talents, or players returning from injury.

The number of wildcards for this edition hasn’t been announced yet. It will be announced closer to the tournament and the number is most likely to stay the same as the last edition. In 2022, eight Wildcards were offered each in Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ singles while seven were offered for both categories of Doubles.

If the number stays the same as last year, then Venus has a strong chance of receiving a Wildcard entry. She is coming back from injury and more importantly, a five-time Wimbledon Champion in singles.

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