So just TWO YEARS AGO Venus Williams became the lowest seeded player in the Ladies’ tournament at Wimbledon to win it all. She was seeded 14th. Well this year, she broke her own record. She won from the 23rd seed. You would think they would give her more credit for being a three time champ coming into this year’s tournament. However, she was ranked 31st in the world, and had missed most of the first half of the season this year with a wrist injury. So in many respects, they were giving her respect.
Today she took on an up and coming star in the women’s game, Marion Bartoli of France. Williams defeated Bartoli 6-4, 6-1 for her fourth Wimbledon singles title (her sixth Grand Slam).
Bartoli seemed to be rather nervous at the beginning, getting down 0-3 quickly. However, she had done something similar in her semi-final match against number one seeded and ranked Justine Henin. Bartoli lost the first set 1-6, yet came back to win the next two sets. So Marcia and I weren’t convinced she was going to roll over. Proving us correctly, Bartoli fought off two break points in the fourth game, then broke Williams’ serve, then bot back on serve to even the set at 3-3. However, the nerves came back in the last game of the set, with Williams up 5-4, Bartoli double faulted early in the game, and eventually gave up the set to Williams. After that Venus was unstoppable, even though both players had injury time-outs (at the same time).
I have been rooting for Venus now for a while. I like the way she plays. She has a good all-around game, especially on grass. (And she looks good doing it, too.) Her determination is fierce, and it seems the complete opposite of her personality. When she is interviewed, she seems like a real “happy-go-lucky” young lady. Yet while on court, she looks like she isn’t out to make friends, just conquer her opponent. I also like how she has won two of the last three Wimbledon titles (she has now played in six of the last eight Ladies’ Finals), and both times was a big underdog. When on Centre Court, it seems that nothing scares her.
My congratulations to Venus Williams on showing what determination can do.
July 8th, 2007 at 6:58 am
I only watched one GAME in Wimbledon, but it was incredible: V. Williams vs. M. Sharapova on July 4, 3rd game of the 2nd set. Must have gone on 20 minutes, with about 11 deuces. Yeah, I always root for Venus.
July 8th, 2007 at 7:28 am
I think she comes across as a really nice person, and quite giggly for somebody who looks as determined on court as she does. I think sometimes the seedings are a bit ridiculous. I pegged Venus to be a contender, just because I wasn’t convinced that Henin was going to be able to beat her in the final, if she got there. I should have put money on it.
Congrats to Bartoli as well because I was in the car listening to her match against Henin, and the radio presenters absolutely gave her hell because she started out so poorly. At the time I thought it was rather unfair of them to judge her so poorly, but I was thrilled when she got her game together and came back to beat Henin. Now that was a fabulous match!