Things returned to a far more standard state of affairs as Williams closed things out, as she hit a solid (for the conditions) 58 percent of her first serves in play.
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It’s the same experience the Campbell sisters will likely have to endure when they square off in the 50m and 100m freestyle finals – barring a disaster – in Rio De Janeiro later in the week. “There are going to be many rallies, because the court is slow, but I have to be patient and mentally strong”. I played pretty late last night and you can’t be flat playing against Serena because you have to run all the time.
Venus and Serena entered the match an unblemished 15-0 in the Olympics, claiming the gold medal in women’s doubles every time they stepped on the court: 2000 in Sydney, 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London. “I got to meet Venus and Serena today – changed my life”, American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad volunteered with a laugh earlier this week, adding it had always been a wish of hers.
Williams had not competed since collecting her Open-era record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. “She tried to get through that match – nearly got to the finish line”. They are unseeded in Rio.
Ivanovic’s match, like all the others on centre court, was played in a stadium that was more than half empty, something likely to disappoint organisers. A disappointed Radwanska put her 6-4 7-5 loss down to a lack of time to prepare.
The lengthy exchange featured terrific defense by both women and ended with Williams putting a forehand into the net. And it helped her attain her best ranking since revealing in 2011 that she had been diagnosed with Sjongren’s syndrome, which can cause joint pain and fatigue. But Williams broke right back in the next game.
“I felt good out there, I was just trying to be very solid and I think I did that well”, Bouchard said. The top two men’s singles players, John Isner and Sam Querrey, opted to the skip the Olympics, which does not offer points or prize money, to focus on the U.S. hard-court swing that culminates with the U.S. Open later this month.
“I qualified for it, I worked a year for this, not to get medal but just to qualify and come here, but then to beat Venus Williams, one of the biggest champions in our history, on center court, gives me goose bumps all over the place”. “It’s OK. I’m getting used to the conditions as a whole”.
She was scheduled to play doubles with her older sister Venus later Sunday.
Steve Johnson and Madison Keys won, but there were losses for Jack Sock (who said afterward he had walking pneumonia, then got into a Twitter spat with former pro player and coach Brad Gilbert), Denis Kudla, Brian Baker and Sloane Stephens.
U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Tom LaDue tells The Associated Press that Williams will be available for her doubles match Sunday despite being sick.
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