Venus Williams to play Western & Southern Open as wild card

Venus Williams will play in the upcoming Western & Southern Open after receiving a wild card, the tournament announced Monday.

It is the second hardcourt event Williams will be playing this summer ahead of the US Open, where she also is expected to receive a wild card. The seven-time major champion and former world No. 1 also will first play at next week’s Canadian Open in Montreal as a wild card.

Williams, 43, returned to competition last month after being sidelined since January with a hamstring injury sustained in Auckland. She played in three grass-court tournaments, culminating at Wimbledon, and had a 1-3 record.

During her first-round Wimbledon loss against eventual semifinalist Elina Svitolina, Williams suffered a fall that hampered her movement. But despite her disappointment and swirling retirement rumors, Williams said she…