'A generational icon'

2:09 AM ETDeveloping

Sports Desk

"I think it's good for tennis to have these generational icons," said Karl Hale, the tournament director who offered Williams a wildcard for this month's WTA 1000 event in Toronto. "The wildcards always play first-round matches, and with the bigger draw [size] now, it adds more notable names and stars for the beginning of the tournament," he said.

"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 has given so much to our sport that she deserves to get what she needs back," she said then.

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"I think it's good for tennis to have these generational icons," said Karl Hale, the tournament director who offered Williams a wildcard for this month's WTA 1000 event in Toronto.
"The wildcards always play first-round matches, and with the bigger draw [size] now, it adds more notable names and stars for the beginning of the tournament," he said.
"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 has given so much to our sport that she deserves to get what she needs back," she said then.

Sources

BBClink