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Showing posts with label VenusWilliams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VenusWilliams. Show all posts
Saturday, 28 November 2015
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Venus Strong at US Open
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| Getty Images |
Venus Williams had been 14-0 in the first round of the U.S. Open, though she never had to face an opponent ranked in the top 30 at that stage.
Williams was usually the seeded player, but after two years of illness and injury, the seven-time major champ was the one pulling the upset Monday when she defeated Wimbledon semifinalist Kirsten Flipkens.
Her ranking down to No. 60, Williams beat the 12th-seeded Flipkens 6-1, 6-2 for one of her biggest wins since she pulled out of this tournament two years ago because of Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease.
"For me, I stay positive because I know I can play great tennis," Williams said. "Sometimes you just have to go through more than what you want to go through. Sometimes you have to have losses. When I had losses, it always motivates me a lot to do better and to work harder."
The 33-year-old looked strong Monday, fighting off three break points at 2-2 in the second set in a game that went to six deuces.
"If Venus is there -- if she's fit, if she's focused -- she's a top-10 player," Flipkens said. "Everybody who knows a little bit of the game of tennis can see that. Today, she was like a top-10 player."
Bothered by a lower back injury, Williams was playing just her third event since a first-round loss at the French Open. She hadn't defeated a top-20 opponent since last October.
"I realise that I haven't had a lot of chances to play this year or a lot of chances to play healthy this year, have had injuries and what have you," she said. "So I'm just going to have to keep working my way into it maybe more than some of the other players. But I know I can do that."
Flipkens, meanwhile, had been enjoying a career year. The Belgian had never reached the round of 16 at a major tournament before the Australian Open, then made her run at Wimbledon.
Hours after Venus advanced, sister Serena was so dominant in her opener that her opponent really needed a hug.
So midway through the second set of defending champion Williams' 6-0, 6-1 victory,Francesca Schiavone wandered behind the baseline, found a ball boy and enveloped him in a full-fledged embrace.
It was that kind of evening for Schiavone, an often-demonstrative player who is certainly no pushover: She won the 2010 French Open, and was the runner-up at that Grand Slam tournament a year later. She's been ranked as high as No. 4 but is 54th this week.
"I knew playing a former Grand Slam champion in the first round was a really, really tough draw," Williams said, "so I tried to be super serious."
The No. 1-ranked Williams was nearly perfect, making only eight unforced errors, compared with a 13-3 edge in winners, hitting serves faster than 115 mph, and taking the first 10 games.
"It was tough today," said Schiavone, who is working with Peter Lundgren, one of Roger Federer's former coaches. "Really, really tough."
When Schiavone finally got on the board more than 50 minutes into the match, holding serve to win her first game with a volley winner, she swung her right fist in a celebratory roundhouse punch and shouted. Her face then broke into a wide smile while she strutted to the sideline, and she tossed her racket toward her changeover chair.
"It was very, very nice to win a game," Schiavone said. "For the first time in my life, I felt joy from winning a single game."
At Williams' news conference, she was asked by an Italian reporter: "Did you really want to win 6-love, 6-love against the poor Schiavone?"
That drew a chuckle from Williams, who responded: "No, it wasn't that. I was just out there, trying to be focused."
Monday, 30 July 2012
Venus and Serena Progress in London
Venus Williams began her bid for a record fourth gold medal in Olympic tennis Monday by beating Sara Errani of Italy, 6-3, 6-1.
It was an impressive showing from Williams, who is unseeded and drew a tough first-round foe. Errani has won four titles this year, was the runner-up at the French Open and is ranked a career-high No. 9.
But Williams was in fine form on the Wimbledon grass, where she has won five of her seven Grand Slam titles.
Despite being diagnosed last year with an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue, Williams began 2012 determined to make the Olympics for the fourth time.
She won the gold medal in singles at the 2000 Games and teamed with sister Serena to take the gold in doubles in 2000 and 2008.
Serena beat Urszula Radwanska of Poland, 6-2, 6-3 in the second round at Wimbledon on Monday.
Serena defeated Radwanska's sister, Agnieszka, in the Wimbledon final this year.
American Varvara Lepchenko eliminated Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-2. Their match was tied after two sets when suspended Sunday because of rain.
Monday, 25 June 2012
Venus Knocked Out of Wimbledon
Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams lost in the first round at SW19 for only the second time as she slumped 6-1 6-3 to Russian Elena Vesnina.
Williams was not seeded this year as she attempts a comeback after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome.
The American had shown some form of late but looked a shadow of her former self on Court No 2 as she crashed to the world number 79.
Williams last suffered defeat in the first round on her debut in 1997 and never got going against the Russian after losing the first five games.
She saved two set points before finally getting on the scoresheet by breaking her opponent, but Vesnina broke back immediately to take the set.
The 32-year-old put up more of a fight in the second but Vesnina crucially broke in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead and successfully served out for victory in an hour and 15 minutes.
The defeat again brought into question the possibility of Williams calling time on her distinguished career, but she is planning on returning once again next year.
"I'm planning on it," she said. "I feel like I'm a great player. I am a great player. I'm up for challenges.
"There's no way I'm just going to give up. That's just not me. I'm tough, let me tell you, tough as nails. The only thing I can do is be positive.
"I love this sport. I feel I can play well and I'm not going to give up on that."
Vesnina, who had lost in the first round of nine of her last 10 Grand Slam appearances, will face Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the last 32.
Radwanska booked her place in the second round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova.
Reigning US Open champion Samantha Stosur was an impressive winner of her first round match cruising past Spain's 40th-ranked Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3.
The Australian had suffered first round defeats on her last two Wimbledon appearances but there was not even the whiff of an upset as Stosur's name became the first into the second round draw.
Former French Open champion and 11th seed Li Na also progressed with an emphatic 6-3 6-1 victory over Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan.
Li, knocked out in the second round by big-serving German Sabine Lisicki 12 months ago, set up a clash with Romania's Sorana Cirstea while Lisicki was another early winner on Monday as she beat Petra Martic of Croatia 6-4 6-2.
Flavia Pennetta, seeded 16, was the biggest casualty as she suffered a 6-4 6-3 defeat to fellow Italian Camila Giorgi, who had to come through qualifying.
Friday, 6 April 2012
Williams Sisters Charleston Time
Venus Williams can't remember the last time she took on younger sister Serena on the tennis court. Their next meeting may not be too far off.
Venus and Serena both reached the quarterfinals of the Family Circle Cup on Thursday with straight-set victories. Venus defeated Anastasia Rodionova 7-5, 6-2 on center court shortly after Serena ousted Marina Erakovic, 6-2, 6-2. Should the sisters win on Friday, it would set up a Saturday showdown in the semifinals.
"If we both get to the semifinal," Venus said, "I guess the best Williams will win."
Most times, that's been Serena, who holds a 13-10 edge in the family rivalry -- although the two haven't faced each other since Serena took the title at the 2009 WTA Championships in Qatar. Serena holds a 7-5 advantage over her older sister at grand slam events and has won six of the eight times the two have played with a major title on the line.
Serena also wasn't yet prepping to face the player on tour she knows the best, although she was rooting for the matchup.
"I have to win another match," Serena said. "I really hope we both get there, so we'll see."
Serena Williams, ranked 10th in the world, might have the easier time of it. She'll go up against 2009 Family Circle winner Sabine Lisicki, who stands 13th in the WTA rankings. The last time the two met, Williams won on the way to the Bank of the West title last summer.
"It can only get better," said Lisicki, the tournament's sixth seed.
Venus, who is ranked at No. 87, hadn't played in more than six months until last week's Sony Ericsson Open due to complications from Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder. She could face the Family Circle's No. 2 seed and reigning U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur.
Stosur's match with Galina Voskoboeva on Thursday night was suspended until Friday when thunderstorms hit the tennis centre. Stosur was ahead 4-2 in the first set.
Other winners Thursday included No. 4 seed Vera Zvonareva, No. 9 seed Lucie Safarova and No. 13 Nadia Petrova. Third-seeded Marion Bartoli fell to the 14th seed, Polona Hercog, who overcame a 4-2 deficit in the third set to advance.
The Williams sisters are each playing well enough to win their first clay-court event of the season. Venus, the 2004 champion here, has dropped only one set in three matches and has reached the final eight in both tournaments she's played since returning from injury.
Serena won both her matches in straight sets and has gotten stronger since the week began, and that was certainly the case in her first meeting with Erakovic.
Williams and Erakovic traded ground strokes early on, with the 24-year-old New Zealander prevailing in a game that took nearly 15 minutes to play and left the first set tied at 2.
Williams, annoyed she played through seven deuces and still lost, then cranked it up and won the final four games of the set.
Erakovic was overmatched the rest of the way, often watching from the baseline as Williams' shots flew past for winners. At one point, Williams swung and missed as Erackovic's lob shot flew over, yet caught up with the ball moments later on the bounce and flipped it over the net for a winner. Williams switched sides with a huge grin on her face.
"I'm really excited to be playing some matches here because it really gives you confidence in the things that you want to work on, not just for today and tomorrow, but the rest of the clay-court season," Williams said.
Williams had aces clocked at 120 and 121 mph in the final set. Erakovic double-faulted to end the match.
Williams, who won 10 of the last 12 games, said she was more comfortable in her second match on clay, moving better and reacting more crisply during the longer points that come with the slower surface.
"So I felt good," Williams said. "I love the clay."
It doesn't always love her back, especially at Roland Garros. Williams, a 13-time grand slam champion, won her only French Open crown in 2002. She lost in the semifinals the next year, and hasn't made it past the quarterfinals in five trips since. Paris is "my favourite city in the world," Williams said. "I hate leaving there."
So imagine how much it must gall the ultra-competitive Williams when she leaves without the victory.
First things first, though, and that's trying for a second Family Circle crown.
Venus Williams is also a past champ here, winning in 2004. She's met each test so far this week, including Rodionova, the 29-year-old Australian.
Venus closed strongly in both sets. She trailed 4-2 in the opening set before winning five of the final six games. Williams won the last four games of the second set to close out the match.
Williams says the past six months away from the game gave her a healthier perspective on competition. Before she worried over how well her serve would work or if she'd land her ground strokes. The disease has "taken my mind off whether or not I can play tennis," Venus said. "Like now I know I can play. So it's a different way of looking at things."
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Venus Reaches Round Two
Venus Williams reached the second round of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston with a 6-4 6-3 victory over qualifier Iveta Benesova.
The 31-year-old received a wildcard invitation into the event and is looking to rebuild her ranking after being diagnosed with the auto-immune disorder Sjogren syndrome.
The American made it to the quarter-finals in Miami on her return to action last week and required 79 minutes to get past the 44th-ranked Benesova.
But Williams, who won the Charleston event eight years ago, will face a tougher test in the shape of seventh-seed Jelena Jankovic in the second round.
The Serbian received a bye past the first round.
"This is great for me to be in another match and to be in the second round," Williams said. "For me it's just about having energy at this point. I try not to worry about tomorrow.
"I'm very happy I'm on the right road, but I'm very unhappy I didn't do more in Miami.
"That's the past. There's so many opportunities going forward and I try to focus on the forward and focus on every day and today's win takes me closer."
Also on Tuesday, Belgian 12th seed Yanina Wickmayer beat American Vania King 6-4 6-3 while fourth seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva destroyed Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-1 6-1 to become the first player through to the third round.
She was later joined by second seed Sam Stosur, who beat Jamie Hampton 6-0 7-5, and eighth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who saw off Eleni Daniilidou 3-6 6-4 6-4.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Venus Returns Victorious in Miami
Venus Williams marked her return to competitive action for the first time in over six months with a straight-sets win over Kimiko Date-Krumm in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
Williams, who had not played since being knocked out of the second round of the 2011 US Open by Sabine Lisicki due to illness, required just one hour and 17 minutes to record a 6-0, 6-3 victory over her 41-year-old Japanese opponent.
The five-time Wimbledon champion has been sidelined with Sjogren's syndrome, a disorder of the immune system, and was delighted to be back playing again.
'It was great to be back out there,' the 31-year-old said. 'It was definitely nerve-wracking, especially playing an opponent that I know how talented she is and first match back. But I was able to get a great start and settle in and play well.'
Williams dismissed the suggestion she may have considered retirement due to her condition.
Unseeded Williams will face third seed, and reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the second round.She added: 'I'm not at my worst anymore. So that helps, as well. Someone with an autoimmune disease definitely faces different challenges than other people, but it doesn't mean you can't be successful.'
'I think in some ways we play a very similar game,' Williams said. 'Obviously she's been playing very well in the last 12 months or so. It's just totally a credit to her.
'I have had a lot of experience with playing well. I played all right today. I'm going into this just focused on executing my game and just trying my absolute best, which is the same thing she'll be trying to do.'
Meanwhile in her first match since suffering an ankle injury in the Australian Open, former world No 1 Kim Clijsters was pushed before overcoming Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Venus Out of Australian Open
Venus Williams has been forced to pull out of the Australian Open, which starts on Monday, through illness.
The former world number one revealed that she was suffering with Sjogren's syndrome in September last year.
A statement on her official website said: "I regret to announce that I am withdrawing from the 2012 Australian Open.
"After several months of training and treatment, I am making steady progress to top competitive form."
The 31-year-old previously pulled out of January's ASB Classic in Auckland but was hopeful of being fit for the first grand slam of the year.
The statement continued: "My diet and fitness regimen have allowed me to make great strides in terms of my health and I am very close to being ready to return to WTA competition.
"I have every intention to return to the circuit in February."
The auto-immune disease, which can cause fatigue and joint pain, caused her to pull out of last year's US Open.
She then announced that she was suffering with the ongoing medical condition, for which there is no known cure.
Williams has won seven grand slam singles titles, including five at Wimbledon.
Her only past success in Melbourne has come in the doubles, where she has won the ladies title four times with sister Serena and the mixed doubles once in 1998 when she partnered Justin Gimelstob.
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