“I’ve Earned the Right to Decide How It Ends”- Venus Williams Hits Back at Critics After Another Loss

Venus Williams defended her decision to continue competing following a 6-2, 6-2 defeat to Lilli Tagger at the Guangzhou Open, extending her losing streak to 16 matches. Responding to criticism over her recent results and wildcard entries, the former World No. 1 stated she has earned the right to determine the end of her career and currently has no set retirement date.

Williams highlighted that after battling severe health issues including Sjögren's syndrome and fibroids for years, she is now grateful to compete relatively pain-free. While critics question her tournament wildcards amid an 8-46 record since 2020, Williams emphasized her enjoyment of the sport and confirmed she will keep playing as long as she feels physically capable.