'It’s getting ridiculous': Tennis journalist blasts US Open for giving wildcard entry to Venus Williams

Venus Williams’ desire to play tennis at the highest level continues to divide opinion. The 45-year-old has been admired by many for showing the courage to play tennis against some of the best in the world, whereas others believe that she is now taking the spot of a deserving youngster.

Venus returned to the court earlier this year after a gap of more than 12 months at the DC Open, where she defeated Peyton Stearns in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Talking after the match, Venus stated that she is playing for herself and that she has ‘nothing to prove’ to anyone. "I have nothing to prove. Zip. Zero,” said Venus. "I'm here for me because I want to be here. And proving anyone wrong or thinking about anyone has never gotten me a win and has never gotten me a loss."

Her journey ended in the second round after losing to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2. Venus’ next appearance was in the ongoing Cincinnati Open, where she suffered a defeat in the first round to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4. In both competitions, Venus received a wildcard entry, which led to her receiving some criticism as well.

Those were not only competitions where Venus received a wildcard entry this year. She first received a wildcard entry into the US Open mixed doubles event, where she will partner with Reilly Opelka. The mixed doubles competition this year, for the first time, will be played as a standalone event and it will feature just 16 teams, eight of which will have direct entry based on players’ rankings in the singles category, whereas the other eight teams will receive a wildcard entry.

Direct entry

That’s not it as Venus has now been awarded a wild card entry in the main draw of the US Open. The decision is a surprising one, as Venus has not played in a singles category of a major event since 2023. That year, Venus suffered a first-round exit from the fourth and the final Grand Slam of the year after losing to Belgium’s Greet Minnen in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-1. Tennis journalist Benoit Maylin has become the latest high-profile voice to express his resentment over the development. In a post on the social media platform X, Maylin stated that giving a 45-year-old a wildcard entry into the main round of a Grand Slam, who has just played four matches in the last two years, is ‘ridiculous’ and asked someone to ‘stop it’.

"And who gets invited for mixed doubles and singles at the US Open? Venus Williams,” wrote Maylin. “[The] 45 years old. Ranked 577th. 2 matches in 2025. 2 in 2024. 0 wins in New York since 2019… I know, she’s a legend, but someone has to say stop. It’s getting ridiculous.”

Venus has an impressive record while playing at the US Open, where she lifted the title on two occasions. Those titles, however, came more than two decades ago. Her first title at the Flashing Meadows came in 2000, where she defeated the former world number one Lindsay Davenport in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-5. Venus’ second US Open title came a year later in 2001 when she defeated her sister Serena in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-4.

Venus’ last impressive run while playing at the US Open came in 2017 when she was eventually knocked out after losing in the semifinal to fellow American Sloane Stephens with a score of 6-1, 0-6, 7-5.