Venus Williams suffered her 13th consecutive first-round singles loss, falling to Kamilla Rakhimova at the National Bank Open in Toronto, and the tennis community is once again fuming over what many see as yet another wasted wildcard that could have gone to an up-and-coming player.
The world No. 82 Rakhimova, a Russian-born player who switched to representing Uzbekistan last year, converted five of her six break-point opportunities to dispatch tennis legend Williams 6-4 6-1 at the WTA 1000 tournament in Canada.
Twelve years have passed since Williams reached the final in Toronto, where she finished runner-up to Agnieszka Radwanska. Now 46, even a single match victory would feel like a significant achievement, but it was not to be, as the American is still searching for her first singles win of the 2026 season.
After a 16-month absence, Williams began her comeback with a victory over Peyton Stearns in Washington in 2025. However, her singles results have since dried up completely, and she has now gone more than a year without winning a match.
Tournament organizers continue to award Williams wildcards because she remains one of the sport’s biggest icons and still draws crowds. But with the losses continuing to mount, many fans feel there is an increasingly bittersweet aspect to her comeback, arguing that each defeat chips away at her legacy while handing opponents just a symbolic victory over one of tennis’ greatest champions.
Here are some of the latest social media reactions that capture the growing frustration among tennis fans:
“I’ve tried to defend her continually taking wildcards away from other players because she is one of the greats and deserves a dignified exit. However, it is becoming more embarrassing to see player after player grabbing their ‘win’ against a champion like Venus. Difficult to watch.”
“It’s a shame she came back… there is no need for that really…”
“It’s honestly ridiculously at this point, matches aren’t even competitive.”
“My question is… playing for fun is understandable, but if there are only losses, where’s any fun in that!?!?”
“Venus just gotta let it go man. Just retire. You’re already a legend in this game, with nothing to prove.”
“When can this stupidity stop? Give her a wildcard for doubles, but she’s taking away a singles spot from someone who needs it way more than she does.”
“She moves like an old lady. Hate to say it but she should hang up her racket.”
UPDATE: A couple of days after we published this story, Venus Williams was awarded a Toronto doubles wildcard to team up with Alexandra Eala. She has also received Cincinnati Open wildcards in both singles and doubles, where she will reunite with her sister Serena Williams for the doubles event.
Make her qualify like everyone else. PROVE you are capable of competing at that level at your age.
Venus has no pride, no shame! But it’s the tennis tournament directors who are also at fault for perpetuating this embarrassment by continuing to give her wild cards. What about just giving her would cards for qualifying? She wouldn’t probably still lose and maybe would see the light.
Bottom line, she’s just a selfish person with no respect for the sport that gave her everything. If she had any integrity, she would bow out to let players in who are trying to earn a living .