Downcast Venus
Venus Williams was not a happy camper following her defeat in the fourth round of the French Open the other day. It didn’t matter that she bowed to a superior Timea Bacsinszky, or that, given how her strengths are stunted on clay, she deserved props for actually taking the first set after falling behind one and five. That she then won only three more games en route to her exit does not discount her accomplishment. Still, it was clear from her post-mortem that she expected more — make that much, much more — from herself, and not simply because she did well in her tune-up at the Italian Open.
To be sure, Williams’ disappointment stems from the wide-open field at the French Open in light of the absence of the usual suspects. Even as she hadn’t hoisted the hardware in a Grand Slam tournament since 2008, she figured that her extensive experience and continued sharpness augured well for her chances. Unfortunately, the draw had her up against the same tormentor who ended her campaign at the French Open last year. And, once again, Bacsinszky sent her packing.
Under the circumstances, Williams can be forgiven for her relatively tight lip in the aftermath. Bacsinszky, she said, “had so many answers today,” among them an array of well-placed drop shots that tested her quickness on the red surface. “I feel like I played well today, but I didn’t quite figure out the solution in time.” In any case, she argued, “it’s all behind me now, so whatever happens in this tournament is not necessarily my concern anymore.”
For Williams, the good news is that she won’t have to wait long for her favorite major event. And with Wimbledon just around the corner, she has to feel good about her level of competitiveness. The same free-for-all state will prevail at the All-England Club, where she claimed five of her seven Grand Slam titles with good reason. Last year, she reached the semifinals in the sport’s grandest stage; this time around, she’s primed to do even better.
Williams can be forgiven for her relatively tight lip in the aftermath. Bacsinszky, she said, “had so many answers today,” among them an array of well-placed drop shots that tested her quickness on the red surface. “I feel like I played well today, but I didn’t quite figure out the solution in time.” In any case, she argued, “it’s all behind me now, so whatever happens in this tournament is not necessarily my concern anymore.”