Former World No.1 Wants Tournaments to Stop Giving Wild Cards to Venus Williams

Venus Williams will lock horns with Francesca Jones in the first round of the Miami Open.

Former World No.1 Wants Tournaments to Stop Giving Wild Cards to Venus Williams

Venus Williams (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

In Short
  • Former World No.1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov criticizes tournaments for giving wild cards to Venus Williams despite her recent losses.
  • Venus Williams has lost seven consecutive singles matches since her comeback from injury.
  • Rumors about Serena Williams' potential return to competition have surfaced, but no confirmation has been made.

Since making her comeback to the tour, Venus Williams has lost seven consecutive singles matches. She played her first tournament after her long injury hiatus at the 2025 Citi Open, and although she defeated Peyton Stearns in the first round, she failed to win her first-round matches in the next seven events.

She was last seen in action at the Indian Wells, where Diane Parry knocked her out in three sets. This year, she has featured in six tournaments, including at the Australian Open, where Olga Danilovic came from a set down to eliminate her.

Despite her exits one after the other, she is receiving wild cards to feature in the events. The Miami Open is underway, and Williams will start her campaign against Francesca Jones. Recently, during the Hard Court podcast, former ATP World No.1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov said he agrees with Emma Raducanu‘s former coach, Dmitry Tursunov, that tournaments should stop handing the wild cards to the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and instead should give them to other deserving players.

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 wild card into the main draw would be useful for many girls. The same way, Maria Sharapova received one in her time. This wild card could have been used more productively, and I, in principle, completely agree with him.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov said

The 45-year-old last won a title at the 2016 Taiwan Open and since then, has lost in four singles finals, including at the 2017 Australian Open and Wimbledon the same year. Williams is a three-time singles champion in Miami, where World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka will enter as the defending champion. Last year, the Belarusian ace defeated Jessica Pegula.

There are rumors about Serena Williams‘ comeback because she entered the drug testing pool last year and is now eligible to compete in official events. Many believe the two sisters will once again team up for doubles. The Williams sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together. But at the moment, no one knows if Serena will indeed be coming back.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, when asked in an interview about her possible return, neither accepted nor denied the rumors. Even her sister kept mum when asked about Serena’s possible comeback at one of the press conferences.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov calls Mirra Andreeva stagnant

Mirra Andreeva became the cynosure of all eyes when she lifted back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in 2025. After defeating Clara Tauson in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships, the Russian ace upset Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final.

Mirra Andreeva (2)
Mirra Andreeva (Image via X/HQ pics)

Earlier this year, the 18-year-old won the Adelaide International by beating fellow teenager Victoria Mboko. But since that run, she has yet to reach another semifinal and failed to defend her Indian Wells title, losing to Katerina Siniakova in the third round. In a recent interview with Championat, Kafelnikov harshly criticized the teenager, saying she needs significant improvement.

Who doesn’t question Mirra’s form? Her current form might not be questioned only by people who lack tennis competence. For them, Mirra’s game doesn’t raise questions, but for everyone else, including me, it does. She’s not making progress — that’s the most important thing. She’s stagnant.

At the Miami Open, Andreeva will lock horns with McCartney Kessler, who knocked out Magdalena Frech. Andreeva made her debut in the fourth WTA 1000 of the season last year and made it to the third round.

Also read: Emma Raducanu’s Coach Dives into the Hype Around Joao Fonseca