Venus Williams still deserves wild cards for one simple reason following latest win with Alex Eala

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Venus Williams and Alex Eala defeated Alexandra Osbourne and Catherine Harrison, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round of the Bad Homburg Open doubles event.

Two of the most popular players in women’s tennis teamed up for the very first time, securing their place in the Bad Homburg Open quarter-finals.

Williams, 46, and Eala, 21, received a wild card into the doubles event, prompting further criticism of the seven-time Grand Slam champion.

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But with her latest win, Williams has proven why she still deserves wild cards, at least in doubles.

Venus Williams proves she still deserves doubles wild cards as she closes in on the top 100

The truth is that Williams has struggled to win matches on tour since making her return last summer.

She only won one singles match and has struggled to win doubles matches this year, as well.

Venus Williams’ doubles results (2026)

• ASB Classic (With Elina Svitolina): 0-1
• Australian Open (With Ekaterina Alexandrova): 0-1
• ATX Open (With Peyton Stearns): 0-1
• Miami Open (With Leylah Fernandez): 0-1
• Madrid Open (With Katie Boulter): 1-1
• Bad Homburg Open (With Alex Eala): 1-0*

Patience had begun to wear thin, as Williams continued to receive singles and doubles wild cards, no matter how many matches she lost.

She is, of course, a major draw, and fans love to watch her play, but there comes a point where enough is enough.

That may be the case for singles, and the French Open and Wimbledon tournament organisers seemed to agree, as the 46-year-old was denied wild cards for both events.

However, doubles is a different story.

Thanks to her run to the quarter-finals of last year’s US Open and her recent wins alongside Katie Boulter and Eala, Williams is on the verge of a top-100 breakthrough in doubles.

Live WTA doubles rankings

In fact, if Williams and Eala defeat Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova in the Bad Homburg Open quarter-finals, she will jump up to 95th in the ‘Live rankings’.

As the 95th-best doubles player alive, Williams should expect as many wild cards as she pleases.

Not only is she one of the biggest attractions in the women’s game, but she is also clearly still able to compete.

And while her lack of match wins looks concerning at first glance, it shouldn’t be overlooked that she is playing with different partners at every event.

Most top doubles players stick with one partner for the season, or two at most, whereas Williams has played with six different women this season.

It’s unrealistic to expect her to make deep runs at every event when she’s playing with different partners all the time.

So, while it’s probably time for events to stop giving her singles wild cards, there is no reason for her to be refused entry in doubles anytime soon.

She may even begin to gain direct entry into events if she can boost her ranking with a deep run in Bad Homburg!

What’s next for Venus Williams after the Bad Homburg Open?

Williams won’t be playing singles at Wimbledon, but she will be playing doubles alongside her sister, Serena Williams.

At an event packed with storylines, this is certainly one to keep an eye on.

The Williams sisters won six Wimbledon doubles titles together, and if they can rediscover that form in 2026, who’s to say they can’t win a seventh?

Williams sisters Wimbledon doubles wins

• 2000
• 2002
• 2008
• 2009
• 2012
• 2016

Serena Williams made her return to tennis earlier this month, winning her first-round doubles match with Victoria Mboko at Queen’s.

She then lost her opener in Berlin alongside Karolina Muchova, but proved she still has what it takes to challenge.

However, while both Williams sisters have won doubles matches, they’ve done so with younger partners.

Will they fare as well when partnered together? Only time will tell.