Determined Venus Back on Track
A revitalised Venus Williams insists she still has a lot of tour titles up her sleeve, including several grand slams.
(PRWEB) September 19, 2005
A revitalised Venus Williams insists she still has a lot of tour titles up her sleeve, including several grand slams.
The 25-year-old, who is seen as something of veteran after 11 years as a professional and with five grand slams under her belt, has rediscovered her aggressive streak and has been putting it to good use.
“I have been a lot more determined on court this year, which has really helped me in a number of difficult situations, especially at Wimbledon,” Williams said in reference to her dramatic victory over fellow American Lindsay Davenport.
In that match, which lasted two hours and 45 minutes, the longest women's final in Wimbledon history, Williams triumphed 4-6, 7-6 (4), 9-7 after saving a match point.
“It’s not easy to win grand slams and so credit to everyone for getting theirs and credit to me for getting mine,” she said in an interview organised by TOM Group Limited as she prepared for the start of the China Open in Beijing (September 19-25).
“I always feel that I can win and I feel that even stronger [after Wimbledon], because I was the 14th seed and I wasn’t supposed to win,” she said.
For the world number seven, who dominated womenÂ’s tennis for three years at the start of the millennium, a series of knee and ankle injuries meant 2004 was a right-off and 2005 looked like it was going be more of the same.
Critics say Williams was distracted by her interests in fashion, interior-design, art and poetry, and that she had passed her crown to her sister, Serena. But this year, a much-needed win over Serena in Miami, followed by a confidence-boosting victory in Istanbul, her first title in nearly four years, reignited WilliamsÂ’ fire.
She is now looking to 2006 to stamp her comeback place on the women’s tour. “I want to start the year strong and healthy, which I wasn’t able to do this year. That, and staying very aggressive on the court, are the most important things for me. If I can achieve that, I believe I will play well.”
Next on Williams’ agenda is this week’s China Open, where she is up against the top two players in the world – Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport – as well as Serena, the defending champion who is ranked world number nine.
“The China Open is an event I would love to win,” Williams said. “Serena told me how excited she was to go to Beijing last year and how the event was very exciting, and I’m really looking forward to playing (in Beijing).”
So, too, are the Chinese fans.
“Venus is like tennis royalty and the fans here are very keen to see her in action,” said China Open tournament director Ekkehard Rathgeber. “We’re all looking forward to what should be a fantastic spectacle and Venus’s first trip to China is a big part of that.
“It is especially exciting because of her new-found strength and determination, and the high standard of competition she will face from the likes of Sharapova, Davenport and her sister, Serena,” added Rathgeber, who is also Chief Operating Officer of tournament co-organiser TOM Group Limited, an associate of Hutchison Whampoa Limited.
About TOM Group
TOM Group Limited (HKSE stock code: 2383) is listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. A leading Chinese-language media group in the Greater China region, TOM Group has diverse business interests in five key areas: Internet (TOM Online); outdoor (TOM Outdoor Media Group); publishing; sports; and television and entertainment across markets in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In each of the areas it operates, TOM Group has secured market leadership. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group has regional headquarters in Beijing and Taipei, and 3,400 employees in over 20 cities.
Released by Two Up Front on behalf of TOM Group Limited, co-organiser of China Open 2005.
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