34 minutes ago
1
Most tournaments will prioritise their own national players for wildcards, but they are also given to names who are likely to add commercial value to the event.
There are also what Hale calls 'trades' with other national federations or agencies like IMG, which manages players and until recently also owned the Miami and Madrid Opens.
The most obvious example of a 'trade' is the reciprocal wildcard agreement between the USTA, Tennis Australia and the French Tennis Federation. Each of these Grand Slam nations offers a men's and a women's wildcard to the others, knowing two of their players will benefit when it is their counterparts' turn to host.
One sporting event which has reduced the opportunity for past champions to return is the Open Golf Championship.
Twenty years ago, any champions under 65 could play whenever they wished. Now, winners only get the chance to return until they are 55, which could open up the odd place in the field to younger, more highly ranked professionals.
Golfers can be competitive for much longer, but there are no limits in tennis. Martina Navratilova was given a wildcard for both the 2004 French Open and Wimbledon - and won a round on the grass - when she made a comeback aged 47.
"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 lost 6-4 6-1 to Kamilla Rakhimova, and the first set was really competitive. She's still competitive, but just not winning these matches."
So should there be a limit; a moment when a tournament director offers the spot to a more highly ranked player trying to advance their career?
"When the time comes that Venus is not competitive in sets, then I think she will make that call," Hale responded.
"Venus and Serena have done so much for women's tennis and the sport that they should be able to play as long as they want.
"I'm very happy they are continuing and they make their decision when they are ready, or each tournament makes their decision when they are ready."
British number one Katie Boulter put it a similar way after she partnered the "absolute icon" in the Madrid doubles in April.
"Venus has given so much to our sport that she deserves to get what she needs back," she said then.
"We have to be grateful that she is still out there, doing the best she can."
