"Needs to retire already, this is a tough watch": Venus Williams' wildcard to first round loss at Indian Wells angers tennis fans

Venus Williams at the age of 43 continues to return to tennis and played at Indian Wells on Thursday night albeit in a losing effort to Nao Hibino. The latter won 10 consecutive games from 6-2, 3-2 down to win in three.

Hibino broke Venus from 0-40 down at 3-3 and 15-40 down at 5-3 in the second set, with also the third set gleaming a break point going begging for the legendary American. Tennis fans were already spitting feathers over her getting a wildcard in the first place and showed similar displeasure with her display.

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Williams being a legend can't be called into question, but the counter argument of many is that she now has nothing to prove and the wildcard would be better used for a rising star instead of for a 43-year-old who has barely won matches in recent years.

"I am the biggest Venus Williams fan but it’s really just not acceptable losing 10 games in a row to a harmless pusher like Hibino," a fan said. "I hate to say it, But Venus Williams is done should retire," another wrote. "Venus, you have nothing to prove. One of the greatest ever. It's time," another continued.

"Love and respect Venus, but at this point she is taking a spot from someone more deserving. She was gassed 20 minutes in," a fan said using the priorly alluded to counter argument which was the perspective of many that it was a waste of a wildcard and that it is the same argument week in week out for why she is getting the opportunities. The effect of Venus Williams is still very much there with fans flocking to see her after training sessions, but with only glimmers left in the tank, tennis fans seemingly will continue to disparage any sort of wildcards given to the legend.

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Ghost of Gene Tunney

@BankHoldUp42283

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Venus Williams needs to retire already. This is a tough watch. I don't know if she's broke or what, but she has no business still being out there. Willie Mays from beyond the grave is telling her to give it up. #IndianWells #BNPParibasOpen

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The Missed Smash

@Themissedsmash

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I am the biggest Venus Williams fan but it’s really just not acceptable losing 10 games in a row to a harmless pusher like Hibino. #disappointed #Tooslow #TimeToRetire

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Richard Allen

@Richard31072785

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I hate to say it , But Venus Williams is done , should retire

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