Should Venus Williams retire after 2008?

I think after Venus' loss, 3-6, 3-6 to Cibulkova in Doha, I think she should consider retiring after this year, because since her alleged stomach pull injury back in 2003, she has never been the same player. Her serve has been off, and like Serena, she makes so many unnecessary unforced errors, that's it's painful watching her play. I think she has accomplished as much as she's ever going to. I honestly don't see Venus winning any more major events or slams. She's gotten older, and it's obvious that a long time ago, she lost confidence in herself and probably will never get it back. As much as I've enjoyed watching her play, it's just not fun watching her spray errors all over the court or make injury excuses. I think it's time for Venus to retire after 2008. I can only imagine what more she could've accomplished, had she not suffered the injury or lost in 4 straight slam finals to her sister.

Public Comments

1. it's realy up to her, if she still loves the sport and knows she can still play, then she should keep on playing.
2. Sometimes she is disappointing but theres still a lot of potential in her...Last year was the best year shes had in a long time...she won wimbledon and went as far as the semis in the US open...Its a little too early for her to retire... Not just yet
3. Venus has always had these strange losses to unknown players randomly throughout the years. I think she is still always a threat at the grand slams though, as is Serena. They always seem to be able to peak or play their way into form at the right moments. I think she and Serena will retire after this year though, because of the new WTA rules that go into effect in 2009 that will require everyone to play at Indian Wells. The Williams sisters have vowed never to play at Indian Wells because they were supposedly racially insulted by the crowd there back in 2001.
4. No. Keep fighting to the ending, such as Agassi
5. What are you talking about? Venus is my fav. player! I truley don't want her to retire, if she did that would just be awful, she loves the sport, and I bet she's better than us. She should keep on paying until maybe when she dies!
6. Venus is my favorite of the Williams sisters. Never count them out.
7. no
8. YOUR STUPID! venus and serena williams are the best and no one could be them. she had a bad day thats all. yess she loses to some players that she should win but everyone has bad days. She said she wantes to play to the 2012 olympics or w/e so i think she is going to keep going
9. ahhahaha "should venus retire" HELL NO maybe you should retire from asking dumb questions.
10. WHY do people have to spew insults when answering a question?? If you don't like the question don't answer it. Should someone be called stupid because you don't agree with what they say? These elementary school kids really need to stay off the computer. the question called for an opinion. He gave his and you could have given yours with out using degrading words. I don't think Venus should retire yet. I am not a Williams fan (both) But I would like to see Venus chase history and catch another Wimbledon title before she retires.
11. oh i had forgotten about the indian wells thing. hmmmm...it's definitely going to cause conflict. and unless larry scott bows to their every want and weary(which would have a totally new conflict in its unfairness),i could see them certainly retiring. or if anything dropping out of the top ten and staying. as the tourney will be mandatory,points i think will be taken away as a measure if they don't participate. you know thing about venus is that she can have an incredible run one week and next week get beaten very easily. she's been extremely inconsistent since 2003....much like a player in lower 20's,really.
12. It will be interesting to see if she even has the desire to play after she ties the knot. I think she will always be a threat on grass, but her forehand is so inconsistent that she can lose to anybody on the other surfaces. I think of Venus as a bad ball hitter, that is why she is so good on grass and so shaky elsewhere.
13. Players aren't afraid to play the Williams anymore. They know they have a chance to win. Venus hasn't had a good start to her year, but even if she wins 1/4 grand slams this year (Wimbledon) then there is no reason for her to retire. She's been shaky for a while. But I don't think she'll retire until she's either really old or if she finds herself losing first round of every tournament.
14. I love Venus Williams. And I am about to agree with you. Why keep playing if you are not interested. And to lose to an unknown player, it gets old. I am inclined to believe she will never win another title... she may win a few quarters, or semis, but I really don't think she's in the mood to win more. Sorry
15. Except for the fact that she is currently the reigning Wimbledon champion and made the semis of the US Open loosing to the eventual champion. She has also broken the record for the fastest serve by a women (just last year) and is still beating top players and winning tournaments. As long as she can still beat top players like Maria Sharapova and still win tournaments, then why should she retire? In fact with the exception of Justine Henin and Serena, Venus can still be considered the favorite to win a match against most players. Every time someone says that a Williams sisters day is over, they come back and win something else, so be careful what you say.
16. Yes and No. Yes because I think she's already done everything that she could possibly do in tennis like winning six grand slams. It's time to move on I suppose. But if it's because she's already losing her touch as many people are suggesting then it's a NO. OK, so she might be a little rusty sometimes but which tennis player isn't? Every top player including the likes of Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova and even Serena Williams get occassional upsets but this doesn't mean they are "losing their touch". I can't believe I'm defending Venus since I never really liked her anyway but I'm saying this to defend all the top tennis players out there who are criticized for not doing their best when they are beaten by lower ranked players.
17. no
18. no u can never count out a williams they come out of nowhere to win slams so i think its not yet time for her to retire.
19. No, I don't think she should retire yet.