The 43-year-old is bidding for a historic win on Day 1 at Wimbledon.
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday July 3, 2023
43-year-old Venus Williams will bid to turn into the oldest participant to win a Grand Slam match since 2004 on Monday, when she faces Elina Svitolina in first-round motion on Centre Court. Win or lose, the legendary American has served to encourage the sphere by merely exhibiting up.
“The manner that Venus comes and fights and nonetheless goes after what she desires, it's actually admirable,” Victoria Azarenka advised reporters on Monday after her first-round victory over China’s Yuan Yue. “I'm not going to lie – when you type of see her on the court docket, when you see her within the fitness center, you may see the eagerness that she's doing it with, and then you definitely're, like, Oh, okay, I get it. She actually loves it.”
Azarenka, who has received three and misplaced six in opposition to the seven-time main champion, says she will be able to’t assist however be impressed by Williams.
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“I additionally take inspiration, like, Oh, you type of need to remind your self typically why do you do issues?” she stated. “Because it's really easy to get caught in outcomes and expectations and all the things. Then, these moments of like little inspiration, I undoubtedly take them for myself, and I'm very completely satisfied to see her, initially, wholesome and enjoying right here and for the event and for the ladies's tennis. It's wonderful.”
Coco Gauff, who kicked off her outstanding Grand Slam profession by defeating Williams on No.1 Court in 2019, echoed these sentiments over the weekend. The now 19-year-old American says it’s Venus’ ardour for the sport and her capability for the combat that blows her thoughts.
“The most inspiring factor about her is the love that she has for tennis,” Gauff stated. “I don't suppose that love has swayed over the course of her profession. I believe you may see gamers who’re older now. You can have a sense they in all probability don't find it irresistible as a lot as they did after they began it. I don't have that feeling with Venus. I hope I'm the identical manner.”
Source: www.tennisnow.com