Love is the secret of success, says Venus
The 37-year-old defies years in 100th match Oldest player in semis since Navratilova in 1994
Age continues to prove no barrier for Venus Williams and neither did Jelena Ostapenko who was dispatched 6-3, 7-5 with brutal efficiency in 73 minutes to set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against Britain’s Johanna Konta.
Ostapenko arrived on Centre Court possessing a reputation for sheer fearlessness, a harder fore- hand than Andy Murray as well as an 11-match winning run in grandslam tournaments that included her triumph as an unseeded player at the French Open. Facing her was a 37-year-old competing in her 100th singles match at Wimbledon where she made her debut in the same month that Ostapenko was born in 1997.
As such, Williams is well-versed in dealing with the impetuousness of youth. All her opponents at Wimbledon have been 21 or younger. All have failed to conquer Mount Venus. The American’s trusty first serve, still as formidable as it was 20 years ago, effectively put paid to Ostapenko’s challenge.
Williams is now the oldest player to reach a Wimbledon semi-final since Martina Navratilova 23 years ago. In the context of her battle with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease, and the distraction of an impending lawsuit over her involvement in the death of a 78-year-old in a car crash, that is all the more impressive. The secret to such longevity and single-minded focus, she says, is simply love.
“I love the challenge,” Williams said. “I love pressure. It’s not always easy dealing with the pressure. There’s constant pressure. It’s only yourself who can have the answer for that. I love the last day you play, you’re still improving. It’s not something that is stagnant. There’s always a reason. You have to get better. I love that.
“I don’t think about the definition of age. It’s beautiful to be at all ages really. That’s my experi- ence so far. I feel quite capable, to be honest, and powerful. So whatever age that is, as long as I feel like that, then I know that I can contend for titles every time.”
This would be the 50th singles title of a storied career – and her first grand slam in nine years – which would also make her the oldest Wimbledon champion since Charlotte Cooper Sterry in 1908. Few would bet against her.
Williams knocked the stuffing out of the first Latvian grand slam winner with her first serves. An opening serve ace of 111mph was a statement of intent before breaking Ostapenko at the first attempt to wrap up the first set inside half an hour. Williams then broke her for the third time at 5-5 and served out to love.