Madison Keys and Venus Williams arrive for Charlotte Invitational; Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz inspire local school kids

American tennis royalty Madison Keys, Venus Williams, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are scheduled to feature in the 2025 edition of the Charlotte Invitational, which will be held at the Spectrum Center on December 4. Keys will face Williams while Tiafoe will take on fellow American Fritz in a doubleheader exhibition match.

Just hours away from the event, Keys and Williams have touched down in Charlotte for the charity event. Keys uploaded a picture in a stunning black outfit to mark her arrival in North Carolina.

"Happy to be back for the Charlotte Invitational. See everyone tomorrow!" she captioned the post.

Williams and Fritz also arrived in the building for the Charlotte Invitational. They were greeted with a warm welcome by the organizers.

Fritz and Frances Tiafoe also visited a Charlotte elementary school, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where they taught tennis skills while having fun with the children there. They conducted various competitions and actively engaged with the students there.

Williams and Keys also took part in a candid chat with moderator Andrew Krasny as they discussed their journeys and passion for the sport and the community while looking forward to their exhibition match.

Last year's inaugural edition was a major success. The exhibition event drew more than 16,000 fans. It featured Carlos Alcaraz, Sloane Stephens, Tiafoe and Keys, along with celebrity appearances by Panthers QB Andy Dalton and retired WR Steve Smith.

"Last year validated that Charlotte is a tennis city, and we're thrilled to build on that momentum with the return of this unparalleled event," Will Pitts, CEO of Charlotte Sports Foundation, said.

Venus Williams' nostalgic connection with Charlotte

Previously, Venus Williams shared her excitement for the event as she took to social media and wrote:

"Excited to share the court with @madison_keys this December for the #CLTInvitational! Presale tickets at the CLT Invitational website."

Venus Williams

@Venuseswilliams

Excited to share the court with @madison_keys this December for the #CLTInvitational! Presale tickets at the CLT Invitational website.

Venus Williams has a nostalgic connection with the city, having played back in 2006 for an exhibition match against her sister and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. The event was part of a Williams Sisters Tour and Venus defeated her sister 6-3, 6-3 in that match.

Earlier in 2025, at the Citi Open, Williams made her return to tennis at the age of 45. After defeating her opponent, she became the second-oldest woman ever to win a tour-level singles match.