There is no tougher test in tennis right now than beating Serena Williams, as said by Andy Murray, whose British peer Heather Watson comes up against the all-conquering world No. 1 at Wimbledon next.
Advertisement
Venus Williams is no longer the player she once was, on account of the passage of time and the day-to-day ups and downs of an energy-sapping condition.
At age 35, 21 years removed from her first professional tournament, Williams still possesses a dangerous serve, along with the muscle memory that comes with seven Grand Slam singles titles, five at Wimbledon.
Venus and Serena Williams each won their third round matches, which means the two sisters will face each other in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
“I honestly didn’t think I … was going to win”, Williams told reporters.
Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams all swept into the third round in a record heat at the Wimbledon Championships here on Wednesday.
The world number 59, who saved three match points in the first round against French 32nd seed Caroline Garcia, has never been past the third round of a grand slam in 18 previous attempts. “I think I’m playing very well actually”. Although she hasn’t had a good time since winning the title, she is a threat on these grass courts.
“Timea, she plays so well, she has such a huge serve, so I was like “Oh my God, it’s not going to be easy for me””.
It wasn’t so much the result that had people buzzing – it was the fourth year in a row that Nadal lost to an opponent ranked 100th or lower at Wimbledon – but the manner in which Brown dismantled the two-time champion.
The 16th seed getting a service victor on match point to dispose of Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7-5, 6-4. She was very good in defence and tried to put a few pressure on Serena.
Venus Williams is back in the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time since 2011.
“But I hope I showed them (the crowd) that I fought for them and it is not going to be a walk in the park for anyone who plays me”. “But if Heather is realistic, she will use that to her advantage and say “I can hang with the best of them””. At times, she was two points away from defeat and the end of a Grand Slam run the sport hasn’t seen in 27 years. “I think as I’m moving on through the tournament I feel more confident on the court”. “The home court will probably help her a little bit”.
Even as the final point was replayed on a hushed Centre Court, the sobs began.
“I always root for Venus”, Serena said.
Watson struggled with the strength of Serena’s second serves, looking overmatched against the veteran.
Advertisement
A Watson victory was an unlikely prospect when Garcia led by a set and a break on Monday evening, flooding her opponent with a stream of crisp forehand winners, and the British No1 was perilously close to joining Johanna Konta and Naomi Broady on the Wimbledon scrapheap.
