Most tournaments prioritise their own national players when awarding wildcards, but places are also offered to players likely to bring commercial value to an event. Hale also refers to agreements as ‘trades’ with other national federations or agencies such as IMG, which manages players and, until recently, also owned the Miami and Madrid Opens.
The clearest example of a ‘trade’ is the reciprocal wildcard agreement between the USTA, Tennis Australia and the French Tennis Federation. Each of the three Grand Slam nations offers one men’s and one women’s wildcard to the other two, ensuring that two of their players benefit when their counterparts host the tournament.
Changing wildcard rules for past champions
The Open Golf Championship has reduced opportunities for former champions to return. Twenty years ago, champions under 65 could play whenever they wished. Now, winners can return only until they are 55, potentially opening places in the field for younger, higher-ranked professionals.
Golfers can remain competitive for much longer, but tennis has no equivalent age limit. Martina Navratilova received wildcards for both the 2004 French Open and Wimbledon when she returned to the sport at 47, winning a round on the grass.
“You never want to put a player out there that you are unsure about,” said Hale, who believes Williams is still capable of winning matches.
“Venus lost 6-4 6-1 to Kamilla Rakhimova, and the first set was really competitive. She’s still competitive, but just not winning these matches.”
Should Venus Williams face a wildcard limit?
The question is whether there should be a point when a tournament director gives a wildcard to a higher-ranked player seeking to advance their career.
“When the time comes that Venus is not competitive in sets, then I think she will make that call,” Hale responded.
“Venus and Serena have done so much for women’s tennis and the sport that they should be able to play as long as they want.”
“I’m very happy they are continuing and they make their decision when they are ready, or each tournament makes their decision when they are ready.”
British number one Katie Boulter expressed a similar view after partnering the “absolute icon” in the Madrid doubles in April.
“Venus has given so much to our sport that she deserves to get what she needs back,” she said then.
“We have to be grateful that she is still out there, doing the best she can.”
