Amid growing fan criticism over her consistent losses and continued wildcard entries, Venus Williams has received a singles wildcard for the Cincinnati Open and will also compete in doubles alongside her sister Serena as a special entry team.
Williams has suffered 13 consecutive first-round defeats and has not won a singles match in more than a year. With each new wildcard opportunity, criticism from parts of the tennis community has intensified, with some fans arguing that the seven-time Grand Slam champion should step away from the sport rather than accept spots that could go to rising players.
Despite the backlash, the August 13-23 WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati has continued the tradition of giving Williams an opportunity to compete. Reacting to the Cincinnati announcement, one Tennis Forum user wrote, “Venus has no shame,” a comment that reflects the growing frustration among some members of the tennis community.
Williams owns a 12-10 record at the Cincinnati Open, with her best results coming in 2012, when she reached the semifinals, and in 2019, when she advanced to the quarterfinals. Last year she also received a wildcard, and lost in the first round to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4 6-4.
What’s more, Venus and Serena Williams will make their Cincinnati Open doubles debut as a wildcard pairing. Together, the sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals. Their last doubles match came at the 2022 US Open.
In singles, Cincinnati has also awarded wildcards to Sloane Stephens, Taylor Townsend, Darja Vidmanova, Elvina Kalieva, Caroline Dolehide and Lois Boisson.
Qualifying wildcards have been given to 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, Akasha Urhobo, Carol Young Suh Lee, Jeline Vandromme and Robin Montgomery, the 21-year-old American who captured her first WTA title in June.
