“To get my feet dirty, this was a great start”: Venus Williams eyes Roland Garros wildcard after Madrid defeat

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 at 04:30

Venus Williams has already shifted her focus toward a potential return at Roland Garros, with the 45-year-old expected to rely on a wildcard as she continues her limited clay-court campaign in 2026. Her appearance at the Madrid Open was framed as an initial step on the surface rather than a standalone objective, with Paris emerging as the central target in her current schedule.

That pathway, however, will not include the Italian Open in Rome, where Williams confirmed she will be absent due to external commitments. The decision removes a key opportunity to build rhythm on clay, something she acknowledged openly, describing herself as “really super sad” to miss the event given both the timing in the calendar and her personal ties to Italy.

Her Madrid campaign ended in the first round with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Spain’s Kaitlin Quevedo, a 20-year-old ranked outside the top 100 who was competing in just her second tour-level main draw. The result extended Williams’ losing streak to double digits and underlined the gap in match sharpness against opponents with greater recent activity on tour.

Across the 2026 season, Williams has featured at the Australian Open, Austin, Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid, but is still searching for her first victory of the year. In seven matches played, she has managed only two sets, reinforcing the challenge of competing sporadically while adapting to different surfaces and conditions.

Adjustments on clay and match context in Madrid

Williams pointed to the need for adaptation on clay, particularly after a long absence from the surface and limited preparation following the hard-court swing. She noted that her movement began to improve late in the match, though not in time to influence the outcome.

“The stadium always has the best feeling. It's been just so many years, so it was great to walk out on the court,” Williams said after returning to the Caja Magica. “I felt like in the last game I started to move better on the clay. But then it was the last game!”

Her assessment of the match focused on the difficulty in establishing baseline consistency, as well as the impact of conditions that affected both players. Quevedo, playing with clarity and intensity, capitalised on those inconsistencies and managed momentum swings effectively, including recovering from 0-3 down in the second set.

“All these things take adjustments. I started my practice on clay a couple weeks after Miami. I haven't really played on clay in years. But I enjoy the clay, it's fun. I played against a very inspired opponent today.”

“I mean, I think she played well, like really well, she was super focused and what have you. I don't think I just ever really found my rhythm on the ground strokes. The conditions weren't easy for both of us, so much wind and rain and interruptions in the match. I don't think that was helpful.”

Rome absence and Paris ambitions

With Rome no longer part of her schedule, Williams’ next potential appearance on clay would come at Roland Garros, contingent on a wildcard from tournament organisers. The absence of competitive matches between Madrid and Paris places added emphasis on preparation outside of match play, particularly given her limited recent experience on the surface.

“I mean, to get my feet dirty, this was a great start. I'm not able to play Rome, I have other commitments, unfortunately, so I'm really super sad about that, actually. My husband is Italian, so we feel sad that we can't be there. So we would love to keep it going on the clay.”

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Beyond singles, Williams continues to engage with the tour through doubles competition. In Madrid, she is set to team up with Britain’s Katie Boulter, a pairing initiated through Boulter’s camp and one Williams accepted readily.

“Yeah, she asked me to play, or her coach did. I would like to think she asked me to play, and I was happy to say yes,” she said. “She's got great energy. She's got a great attitude. She's a fighter. I'm looking forward to playing with her because I think our energies will really match.”

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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