Venus Williams can’t seem to win anymore: retirement isn’t an option at the moment

Venus Williams is a legend of women’s tennis. Her list of achievements includes no fewer than seven Grand Slam titles (five at Wimbledon). At 46, she continues to compete on the tour, even though very little remains of the champion she once was.

Spectators at her debut at the Montreal Masters 1000 took note. The American was swept aside by Kamilla Rachimova in a crushing 6-1, 6-1 defeat. She won only two games—a dismal result for Serena’s sister.

The first-round loss at the Montreal tournament marks her twelfth consecutive defeat. This (negative) record confirms that the older of the Williams sisters has reached a point in her career where she is struggling to compete on the court.

Many people are advising Venus Williams on social media to retire from competitive tennis for good, but for now, the 46-year-old American does not seem inclined to make any drastic decisions about her future. She wants to continue what she has called “a process in her career.” The feeling is that the losses aren’t the problem; the important thing is to keep playing.