Venus Williams remains ever-present on the tennis tour and is a welcome addition to any event she participates in.
This is despite the American currently enduring a ten-match losing streak, with those results all coming in tournaments where she received wildcards.
That torrid form, combined with the way she keeps gaining entry into these events, has led many fans to start questioning her place at the apex of the sport.
In fact, there has actually been a particularly frustrated groundswell after Venus Williams’ latest comments about her hopes for the near future.
Fans react as Venus Williams asks for a Roland Garros wildcard
The anger came after Venus had lost in Madrid.
Losing early again, she stated in her press conference that she still hopes to be gifted a wildcard into Roland Garros, whilst also ruling out the Italian Open by admitting: “My husband is Italian, I would love to play Rome as well but that won’t be possible.”
One fan took to X to claim: “She’ll get a WC to Roland Garros, will lose in R1, and the charade will go on.”
This prompted another supporter to come up with a solution that benefits all parties, writing: “I would much rather see Venus Williams playing doubles with Leylah Fernandez than struggling to win a game in every singles match. Women’s doubles matches benefit from her presence, women’s singles do not.”
Rennae Stubbs has defended Venus Williams’ wildcards, and thus is directly opposing with the aforementioned standpoint.
Venus Williams guarantees sold-out stadiums
Whilst these select few fans and many others are frustrated with Williams’ wildcard expectation, there is very clear and defined reasons why she continues to be accepted into event after event.
After all, she guarantees sold-out arenas.
In America particularly, she was filling up stadiums for doubles events that would normally be completely vacant.
Will Venus Williams ever win another singles match?
That's 10 defeats in a row…
And that appeal is not lost on European audiences either, who also flock to catch a glimpse of the legendary 45-year-old in what could always be her last-ever appearance at that tournament.
Venus has given so much to tennis that, if she wants to take a little back in the form of a few wildcards, she’s more than earned it.
