Wimbledon Day One: The End of the Venus Era?

FIRST-ROUND LOSER VENUS SAYS IF THE SUN STILL COMES UP SHE HAS A CHANCE

Pop philosopher Yogi Berra told us, “It’s not over ‘till it’s over.” But we have to ask whether the grand, singular Venus Williams era is now winding down. She is suffering from a problematic autoimmune disease. She didn’t play for five months between the U.S. Open and Miami (where she reached the quarters) and now has lost in the first round of both the French Open and Wimbledon. Today, she fell to Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3.

True, all things must pass: such an abiding truth. So one recalls Venus emerging in ‘94 as a young girl from the ‘hood, a phenom like no other. We remember Venus as the rail-thin girl with plenty of ‘tude colliding with Irina Spirilea in the infamous “bump” incident at a U.S. Open changeover and, of course, her landmark victory over Lindsay Davenport in that epic 2005 Wimbledon final.

But after just 1:15, as English trees which overlook Court 2, seemed to ask “what’s happening,” the greatest grass court player of our era, was gone: not with a bang, but with a bit of a whimper. In the first set, Venus fell behind 5-0 to Vesnina, who in some ways is just another soldier in the Russian Revolution. A tested, unafraid veteran who knows how to craft wins, Vesinina once reached the fourth round at Wimbledon. She has played the Williams in doubles and she likes to play dubs with Indians – Sania Mirza, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. Plus, she has reached the finals of five Grand Slam doubles matches.

But on this day, the focus was on the defeated Venus. Her 70-year old father, who will soon again be a father, told IT that he had visualized Venus’ career long before she was even born. He said, “I’m a visualizer and could see things long before things happened, and that is what Venus should have done. She should have visualized what to do. But she just couldn’t get her arms straightened out, she bent her elbow too soon, the ball kept going into the net.”

Venus herself noted, “I’ve lost before, so I know how to deal with it … Simple as that … I’m just a couple of months into getting back on tour. Life is challenging, but I’m always up for a challenge … I feel like, the tour will be around for a few more months this year, and I will just continue to try to improve.”

Asked whether she will stay on the circuit, she said “sure” and assured us she would be back for next year’s Wimbledon. She noted, “I’m really proud of my efforts to get my rankings up for the Olympics.

“That’s one of the toughest things I’ve ever done … So now I don’t really feel that much pressure … That was hard, and I definitely came back early. Do I think I’m paying for it? I can’t say that because I don’t really know.”

A reporter then had this dialog with Williams

Q: You’ve been very open that the Olympics was a major goal. What is going to drive you after that? You’re 32, struggling, have a lot of other interests.

VENUS: Am I struggling?

Q. A little bit. No?

VENUS: Am I? I don’t know. Tell me what the struggle is.

Q. To win matches?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You think?

I don’t know. I just want you to be clear. If you say I’m struggling, tell me how I should do better.

Q. I’m just asking what’s going to drive you to stay with it after the Olympics.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel like I am a great player. I am a great player. Unfortunately, I had to deal with circumstances that people don’t normally have to deal with … But I can’t be discouraged, so I’m up for challenges. I have great tennis in me. I just need the opportunity. There’s no way I’m just going to sit down and give up just because I have a hard time the first five or six freakin’ tournaments back, that’s just not me.

“I’ve been through a lot for years without knowing what I was going through … I just try to stay positive and focused . … [and try] not to let anything get to me, like crazy questions. But I’m tough, let me tell you, tough as nails … A lot of people wouldn’t even have the opportunity to even come back, so I’m grateful … With each day that passes, that means I have another chance. If the sun comes up, I have a chance.

“So I have to make good on that chance … [and] continue figuring out how to live my life and figure out how to play sports in this life … Serena has been inspirational. She’s fought back near‑death experiences. I’ve lost before, so I know how to deal with it. …I’m not going to give up … I don’t have time to be negative … it’s easier to be productive when you’re positive, so that’s what I work on.”