Venus Williams Wins 4th Wimbledon
Joins Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and Billie Jean King
Venus Williams lived up to Richard Williams' prediction and captured her sixth Grand Slam title in straight sets over Marion Bartoli.
Media Personalities Eating Crow
Tennis media personalities such as the McEnroe brothers and Mary Carillo seem to enjoy deriding Richard Williams, and don’t mind questioning everything the Williams sisters (Venus and Serena) do, from what they wear to how much they play. Those who scoffed at Daddy Williams for predicting daughter Venus would win Wimbledon prior to the start of the event, are now spitting feathers…crows’ feathers.
Venus' Triumphant Return
Returning to a full playing schedule in April, after a year of myriad injuries, Venus Williams won an unexpected fourth Wimbledon title on Saturday. Pundits may question many things about the Williams sisters, but they can’t question their talent or their hearts. Twice during her title run, Venus appeared to be on her way out, but fought back to win in tough three-setters.
Venus Survives Multiple Scares
Against 59th-ranked Alla Kudryavtseva in the first round, Venus fought off two match points to win 7-5 in the third. Akiko Morigami, ranked No.71 in the world, was up 5-3 in the third set before Venus clawed her way back to victory, again 7-5 in the third.
Rounds into Form against Sharapova
Perhaps three times was the charm, or she finally believed her dad, because, after surviving that third-round duel, Venus destroyed No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova in the fourth round (6-1, 6-3), in a match that wasn’t as close as the score.
The 27-year-old Williams (practically past retirement age in tennis) won her final three matches in straight sets as convincingly as World No.1 and top-seed, Justine Henin, claimed the French Open. The troubled serve and unforced errors that had plagued her game since her comeback from injury were non-existent when she faced Sharapova. From that match on, she played the dominant brand of power tennis that earned her three previous Wimbledon titles and two US Opens.
Venus Dominates Bartoli
In the final against Marion Bartoli, the 18th-seed whose upset of Justine Henin in the semifinals stunned the tennis world, Venus’ serve was bigger than Rafael Nadal’s against Roger Federer. She averaged 113mph to Nadal’s 111mph. Venus belted out 29 winners to Bartoli’s seven, and won four times as many points at net, while approaching almost three times as much as her opponent. She dominated in the 6-4, 6-1 victory.
Althea Gibson Would Be Proud
Along with her devastating offensive power, Venus displayed an athletic prowess rivaled by few on the women’s Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, as she chased down every ball in “Nadal-esque” fashion, getting to some that appeared impossible to reach. Much was made of the fact that this was the 50th Anniversary of the first Wimbledon championship won by an African American. Althea Gibson, the supremely athletic woman who accomplished that feat, would have been proud of the comprehensive manner in which Venus claimed her fourth Wimbledon title.
Venus Joins Elite Women Champions
In winning her fourth, Venus joined Martina Navratilova (9), Steffi Graf (7), and Billie Jean King (4) as the only other women to have claimed at least four Wimbledon singles titles in the Open Era. If Venus can stay healthy, she may once again be meeting her sister Serena in the final of Grand Slam events as she tries to add to the six she has already claimed. Richard and Venus Williams are surely saying, “How ya like me now?”
