On Tuesday night, there was a Williams sister at Arthur Ashe Stadium, much to the joy of the crowd, who gave her a standing ovation at the close of the match. Except it was Venus this time, not Serena, and there was no ceremony, no official departure – and, unlike a year ago, no sign of what the future could contain.
Venus Williams’ younger sister’s playing days are over after one more hurrah at Flushing Meadows in 2022, but she is still competing and trying, even though her age, 43, and a knee ailment didn’t help her on this hot evening. Williams was defeated 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the US Open by Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen, her most lopsided defeat in 100 career matches in the Grand Slam event where she won the title in 2000 and 2001.
The audience, who appeared ecstatic simply to have a chance to watch Williams play, greeted her as she approached the locker room with clapping and screaming. She waved and smiled as she moved away, her red racket bag draped over her left shoulder.
“It was wonderful to hear the encouragement. “I know the fans have always been there for me, so it’s fantastic to have that support even more than ever,” said Williams, the field’s oldest player. “So it’s a beautiful thing, and I love the Open.”
Williams went 21-0 in the first round the first 21 times she entered the tournament. However, this was her third straight first-round defeat.
Minnen, 26, who won with an uppercut and lifted her arms, was born in August 1997, a month before Williams reached the US Open final for the first time.
“It was incredible for me to play a legend like her.” “I have a lot of respect for him,” said Minnen, who is ranked 97th and has a 4-12 career record in Grand Slam matches. “It’s incredible to be there at 43 years old.”
Williams offered nothing but admiration for her opponent.
“I really have to give [Minnen] credit.” “It was truly incredible,” she remarked. “I mean, if she can play like that, you can imagine her being in the top 10, or maybe No. 1, or winning a Grand Slam, or something like that, if she can play at this level.”
Williams has seven major titles, including five at Wimbledon. She has, however, fallen in the first or second round of each of her previous 12 Grand Slam outings, most recently at the All England Club in July after collapsing in her first match.
Injuries have restricted her to 10 matches this season (she is 3-7), following just four in 2022. The most recent issue is a knee injury, which prompted her to withdraw from a tuneup event in Cleveland a little more than a week ago, leaving her doubtful if she would be ready to compete in New York.
But she was there.
“I have to thank my doctors for assisting me in getting here.” “That was a blessing in and of itself,” Williams remarked. “I like playing here. Today, I truly gave it my best. I had some fantastic photographs, but she had some beautiful responses. I wish I had been more prepared for it.”
The temperature was in the low 70s, but the humidity was 90%, and Williams couldn’t keep up with Minnen in the points.
Williams, who used to have one of the most scary serves in the game, was broken twice in the first game. Her first half-dozen second-serve points were all lost.
Minnen did all she could to throw Williams off balance, especially with drop shots, and it succeeded.
“She was on TV almost every Slam when I was 5, 6 years old.” “She was going so far in every tournament,” Minnen added, admitting to feeling nervous before the match due to the opponent and the magnitude of the biggest Grand Slam venue. “She’s always been an incredible player, and she still is.” To defeat her, I knew I had to bring my A-game. Despite her age, she continues to smash the ball quite well.”
For more than two decades, Venus and Serena have travelled the globe together, exchanging the No. 1 position and the most prestigious prizes in their sport in the same way that siblings may share clothing or interests.
Now that Serena, who just had her second child, has retired from the tour, there are certain to be doubts about how long Venus will compete. She’s become used to and proficient at evading such questions, and she did it again on Tuesday, refusing to say if she’ll play again this season, much alone beyond.
Was it difficult for her to be in Flushing Meadows without her sister?
“I mean, I was well aware that Serena would not be competing in the tournament, so I think I was fine.” “Even before she retired, I had a chance to get used to that idea,” the older Williams said. “I had a feeling that was going to happen.”
“I don’t know what I’ll do this autumn,” she says of her intentions for the remainder of the year. It’s really too early to tell.”
More in Sports: https://buzzing.today/sports/
Photo Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/