In a brutally honest interview, former World No. 5 Daniela Hantuchová revealed why Venus Williams should call it a career soon. The interviewer pointed out that as Venus needs wild card entries, and tournaments willingly hand them out to her for being a former legend, it deprives young talents in their own country of the opportunity to participate in tournaments.
Hantuchová said that she was glad that she did not have to make these decisions, as tournament directors receive requests from different age groups and of different statures. However, getting approached by a legend who can still play comes as a huge plus point. But one should also take into consideration the young players, especially considering the prize money available in the first round.
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“You wanna give the opportunity to the young players, given how much prize money there is for the first round. It can change someone else’s life with one tournament. Even if they don’t win the match, they have the budget to afford a better physical coach or a physio,” Daniela Hantuchová said.
She also added that tournament directors have to go with their gut feeling and make a decision on Venus’ case very seriously.
“I’m gonna say I hope Venus Williams retires soon,” Daniela Hantuchová added.
Venus Williams qualifies for the Guangzhou quarterfinals alongside Janice Tjen
This marked Venus Williams’ first match in Guangzhou alongside her doubles partner Janice Tjen since her US Open exit in the first round. Together, they defeated Ekaterine Gorgodze and Kimberley Zimmermann 6-0, 7-5 in under 70 minutes on Monday night. They have now advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament. It also marked Venus Williams’ first appearance in China since 2019.
The former World No. 1’s acceptance of singles and doubles wildcards raised eyebrows over Venus’ continued use of wildcards on the WTA tour. Amid heavy backlash that Venus received, former tennis legend Rennae Stubbs defended the 46-year-old by offering an insight about how tournaments give wildcards on their own to draw interest from the crowd and how a legend of her stature has decided to return to the court on her own terms.
Venus Williams and Father Richard recall one match that 7-time Grand Slam champion “should have won”
Edited by Ahana Bhaumik
