Venus Williams controversy erupts as tennis legend, 45, suffers NINTH straight defeat… with followers calling for her to cease receiving wildcard entries
Venus Williams slumped to her ninth straight singles defeat on Thursday – reigniting calls for the tennis great to stop receiving wildcard entries to tournaments.
Williams, 45, was beaten in straight sets by Britain’s Fran Jones, 25, in her opening match at this month’s Miami Open, which she qualified for as a wildcard yet again.
Given she is ranked outside the world’s top 500, the seven-time Grand Slam winner does not qualify for major championships or WTA Tour events automatically, yet due to her legendary status in the sport she is still getting special invitations to main draws and qualifying rounds.
A number of fans, analysts and ex-players have been increasingly critical of the decision to give wildcards – which are typically awarded to promising young players or high-profile stars returning from injury – to Williams amid her declining form on the court.
And following her ninth consecutive loss in Miami, the outrage over her inclusion has intensified.
Williams’ last singles victory came back in July 2025, when she beat fellow American Peyton Stearns in the Washington Open Round of 32 as a wildcard once again.
Venus Williams slumped to her ninth straight singles defeat on Thursday at the Miami Open
Fans believe the 45-year-old tennis great should no longer be receiving wildcard entries
After losing to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the Round of 16, the five-time Wimbledon champion has earned wildcard entries at eight more tournaments – and suffered opening-round defeats in all eight.
Two of those eight competitions were Grand Slams, with Williams losing to Czechia’s Karolina Muchova at the US Open in 2025 and then coming unstuck against Croatia’s Olga Danilovic at this year’s Australian Open.
The last time she won a WTA singles tournament was at the Kaohsiung Open in Taiwan all the way back in February 2016.
Following her defeat to France’s Diane Parry at Indian Wells earlier this month, former world No.1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov called for Venus to stop taking the wildcard entries away from more deserving players.
During the latest episode of the ‘Hard Court’ podcast, Kafelnikov said: ‘Have you read Dmitry Tursunov’s telegram? After another Venus Williams defeat, he said, I have incredible respect for Venus Williams’ achievements. Multiple Grand Slam singles champion, world number one, but it’s time.
‘The wildcard into the main draw would be useful for many girls. The same way Maria Sharapova received one in her time. This wildcard could have been used more productively, and I, in principle, completely agree with him.’
Several fans have echoed that sentiment online after Williams was handed a 7-5, 7-5 loss by Jones on Thursday, while urging her to retire from the sport.
Britain’s Fran Jones secured a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Williams on day three of the Miami Open
The veteran was left visibly distraught after being handed her ninth consecutive defeat
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, has not won a singles match on the WTA Tour since July 2025
‘Why is Venus getting wildcards? This wildcard should’ve been giving to someone deserving of the spot,’ one user argued on X. ‘Venus is only taking a spot away from someone who really needs it to make money and keep playing on the circuit full time. Venus is already rich. She can play in Challengers.’
‘Can someone please tell Venus Williams to retire gracefully? If it’s not too late…’ another wrote.
A third went as far as to say: ‘Can Venus finally retire and stop wasting WCs? In fact, can we get rid of the nationalistic unfair scam that WCs are?’
While a fourth put: ‘Ngl it’s time for Venus Williams to retire proper. 9 B2B L’s isn’t worth it. Nothing left to prove’.
