Tennis veteran Venus Williams is confident she is heading in the right direction after claiming her first top-20 win in four years at the Western and Southern Open.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion turned back the years with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5, win over world No.16 Veronika Kudermetova. Williams was down a double break in both sets before clawing her way back to edge out her Russian rival. Kudermetova is the highest-ranked player the American has beaten on the Tour since she beat Kiki Bertens, who was ranked 14th in the world, at the same tournament in 2019.
It is only the third time Williams has won a match on the WTA Tour during what has been an injury-stricken season for her. In January at the ASB Classic in Auckland, she sustained a hamstring injury that sidelined her from the Tour for months. Then at Wimbledon, she hurt her knee whilst playing Elina Svitolina in the first round.
“I think I’m at a better level than I started the year, to be honest,” Williams said following her latest win.
“I was actually worried about the rain delay because I’m very traumatized by Auckland and all those rain delays and getting injured after that.’
“My serve is better. The second serve was better. It’s really about playing matches. You cannot replicate it. Especially after you take a large amount of time off. You have to keep putting yourself in that position to just play.’
“I’m fine game-wise, but playing matches is a different ball game.”
According to the WTA website, the 43-year-old is currently the oldest player to have an official ranking of any kind. Despite her age, Williams has shown no indications of wanting to stop playing anytime soon with her sights set on the US Open.
“I always joke I’m a professional rehabber now, not a professional athlete. I needed a break from the rehab.”
One of those cheering her on from the sidelines is sister Serena, who ‘evolved away’ from tennis last year and is currently pregnant with her second child.
“She is encouraging me to rise to be my best because she believes in me and she knows what I have inside of me,” Williams commented.
“It’s nice to have her because she knows what position I’m in and what it’s like to be in this position. She knows what it’s like to have something to give.”
In Cincinnati, Williams will play either Zheng Qiwen or Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round.
