"No one who gets a wild card is deserving of a main draw spot otherwise, they’d be in it": Andy Roddick debunks Venus Williams wildcard criticism

Tennis legends Andy Roddick and journalist Jon Wertheim recently revisited the perennial debate over wild cards, focusing on Venus Williams and Stan Wawrinka, in the latest episode of Served ahead of the Australian Open.

Roddick didn’t mince words and has often stood on the side of Williams anyway when it comes to this with both in particular criticising the use of reciprocal wildcards utilised by the USTA and the FFT to get players in and amid Venus Williams latest wildcard stint, Roddick said it shouldn't be a shock anymore.

“People are like, ‘She didn’t qualify for the tournament. And I feel like every time she gets a wild card, it’s the same conversation. And then you have people like me going, ‘She’s Venus Williams. Is anything changed?’ I feel like we had this conversation before the US Open, and people are acting like it’s shocking again," said Roddick on Served.

While both acknowledged the tension surrounding wild cards and fairness, they stressed that exceptional circumstances warrant exceptions. “We are skeptical of wild cards—they fly in the face of fairness,” Wertheim said. “But we need to acknowledge that sometimes you need a mechanism to get a star player in.”

Jon Wertheim went further, comparing tennis to golf. “As far as I’m concerned, do it like golf. If you’ve won an event, you get it in perpetuity. We shouldn’t even be debating whether Stan gets into Australia.”

The conversation turned to the human element of athletes continuing their careers beyond their peak. “I respect the hell out of it,” Roddick said, reflecting on Venus and Stan’s choices. “I was miserable when I woke up thinking I couldn’t win a major, and that killed me. My progression was: I didn’t play for a long time after I retired. Now, the last two years, I go and play for fun most days, and I love it.”

Wertheim noted the admirable nature of this mindset. “There’s something about this ability to downshift and say, ‘I used to win majors, I’m not winning majors anymore, but I just like tennis. I like competing. I like the rhythms.’ I find that not just admirable, but kind of moving, poignant.”

Roddick also addressed the misconception that wild cards take spots from other players. “A wild card is given to someone undeserving based on ranking. She’s not taking a spot from someone who earned it based on the cutoff. Same with Stan,” he said. “No one who gets a wild card is deserving of a main draw spot—otherwise, they’d be in it. Are they potentially getting a wild card over someone who’s an up-and-comer? Sure. But who deserves that spot more? I might argue it’s the person who’s won Wimbledon five times.”

The conversation ultimately celebrated Venus Williams’ ongoing impact on tennis. “I’ve known Venus since we were kids. She’s the nicest, classiest, smartest person I’ve ever been around,” Roddick said. “She doesn’t give much in the face when she’s playing, and she can be guarded, but she’s near perfect. I just love her. I hope she plays as long as it brings her happiness.”

Wertheim added, “Last year at the US Open was a massive love fest for her—from DC, taking a set off a top player, to the doubles run with Leylah Fernandez.”

Roddick concluded on the role of wild cards in modern tennis: “If someone doesn’t give her a wild card in the future, I’m not upset. She’s not deserving in terms of ranking, but if they give her one, great—it adds value to the tournament. If she doesn’t, that’s fine too.”