Aged Venus Williams Will Compete Again

Posted Sep 06, 2009 10:01PM By Greg Couch (RSS feed)

NEW YORK -- It's amazing how fast you get old in tennis. Not that it comes too soon, though there's that, too. But it comes in a hurry, out of nowhere.

In the real world, it comes gradually. On the tennis court, the tiniest of precision goes, and, snap, you are old.

And that brings me to what we saw from Venus Williams on Sunday, losing to Kim Clijsters in the oddest of matches, 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 in the fourth round of the U.S. Open.

Williams was a 29-year-old with a heavily supported, swollen left knee, struggling to move, missing some of the easiest volleys.

U.S. Open: Women's Scoreboard | Men's Scoreboard | Photos

She didn't look old in February, when she won two lesser tournaments. She looked pretty young and strong through most of Wimbledon, though the knee was wrapped up there, too, and the pounding is lessened on grass.

But this U.S. Open was suddenly different.

"I wasn't able to play 100 percent, but I gave my best and, unfortunately I'm still not in the singles," she said. "But I can just continue to recover and get better. And hopefully, my next event will be 100 percent."

She lost in the finals at Wimbledon, and that was just nine weeks ago. But in the two tournaments leading to New York, she won just one match. And now she's out again.

Has it hit Venus that fast? Well, yes. But it's going to affect her differently than it has others. Williams, ranked No. 3, is done contending for No. 1.

Maybe the edge is gone, but in her case, she's going to age well, be able to stay in the top 10 for another four years or so. Probably sneak in another major title. Maybe two.

Venus is going to have a long shelf life, as long as she's willing to play at that level. And tennis needs her.

We don't like to see superstars hang around too long. When Venus gets old -- and if I'm wrong, and she hasn't gotten there yet, then she will very soon -- she will not embarrass herself.

These major championships are defining moments for tennis. And if Venus has been defined as someone starting to look old, than the rest of the top of the women's game has shown that it's simply not good, not reliable, not to be trusted.

In tennis, there is usually some young kid trying to move in, take your spot. In tennis, this Open has defined Melanie Oudin, the 17-year-old from Georgia.

For so long, tennis hasn't had any Americans and Venus and sister Serena have had to carry the load themselves. They still have to, really.

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U.S. Open 2009

Kim Clijsters of Belgium hits a backhand against Venus Williams of the United States during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Jason DeCrow/NewsdayMCT)

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U.S. Open Photos

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Flavia Pennetta of Italy reacts after a point against Vera Zvonareva of Russia during day seven of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Flavia Pennetta

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Jason Bateman looks on during day seven of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Bateman

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Flavia Pennetta of Italy reacts after a point against Vera Zvonareva of Russia during day seven of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Flavia Pennetta

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Flavia Pennetta of Italy returns the ball against Vera Zvonareva of Russia during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Kathy Kmonicek/NewsdayMCT)

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Vera Zvonareva of Russia returns the ball to Flavia Pennetta of Italy during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Kathy Kmonicek/NewsdayMCT)

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Venus Williams, right, listens to her sister Serena during their doubles match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. The Williams sisters beat Sorana Cirstea of Romania and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns a shot in front of her partner, Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, during a doubles match against Venus and Serena Williams at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. The Williams sisters won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Gael Monfils of France tosses the ball while serving to Jose Acasuso of Argentina during their match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Jose Acasuso of Argentina hits a forehand against France's Gael Monfils during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Jason DeCrow/NewsdayMCT)

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Gael Monfils of France hits a forehand against Jose Acasuso of Argentina during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Jason DeCrow/NewsdayMCT)

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Venus has such a graceful style, too. It's one that can last. That's the fear with Rafael Nadal, that his hyper-aggressive style, full of torque, is going to make him old and run him off awfully early.

Looking ahead, Venus will still be able to serve, still move OK, still play smart and cover the net. Oudin is here, but anyone else?

This game puts a beating on any body. Just ask Clijsters. Just ask her ex-boyfriend, Lleyton Hewitt. He was the best in the world, based on grit and footspeed.

Then one day, he lost a fraction of a step and crashed down the rankings.

Clijsters felt it coming and retired 2 1/2 years ago to have a baby. She was 23.

"I think it was a combination both, physically and mentally, that was kind of just a little bit tired of it," she said.

So Clijsters had her baby, then this spring decided to try a comeback. And she immediately started beating top players.

She stands out as so much fresher than the other women here.
Williams has said she wants to play more. And that's a good thing, just to show how to fight, how to act, how to be an example. Tennis still needs Venus Williams.
Oudin is fresh. Serena Williams looks great. But the rest of the draw looks so battered mentally or physically.

The freshness is what won the match for Clijsters Sunday. She came out hitting winners everywhere, making Williams look slow. Clijsters, 6-0.

Then Williams, ever the champion, dug deep. She fought back and immediately turned everything. She made Clijsters lose her confidence. Williams, 6-0.

"I just said to myself, 'OK, forget about what happened this last hour,'" Clijsters said. "You start from zero and just make sure that you stay aggressive, keep serving well."

The third set stayed close. And when Clijsters served for the match, Williams pulled ahead 15-40.

She had two chances to tie the match. But in that one moment, Clijsters' freshness showed again.

"Look, I tightened up," she said. "It was kind of the first time I was in a big stadium like that, in a situation like that again. But I handled it well."

With an ace on match point.

You'd think rust might be an issue. You'd think Williams would have been better set for the big moment than Clijsters.

"I definitely would have liked to have played better, obviously, to win the match," Williams said. "You know, there were a lot of good plays, but I would have liked to have capitalized on some more shots."

Someone asked James Blake the other day what's the difference between 29 and 22.

"Well, I'm probably going to groan when I get up out of this seat," he said. "You feel the knees a little more. You feel the back.

"I can't just roll out of the car and hit anymore. I need to be in there stretching, be on the bike for five minutes, do all these things to warm up my body. But I still love it."

Blake started looking old this spring.

Williams has said she wants to play more. And that's a good thing, just to show how to fight, how to act, how to be an example.

Tennis still needs Venus Williams.

Email me at gregcouch09@aol.com

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

9-07-2009 @ 12:46AM

dhender499 said...

Couch, it's interesting how you picked Roddick to win the Open and he lost in the third round. Then you say Venus is old. It's her knee, damn it! Can't you see? Venus has been a better career player, by far, than Roddick. Venus may be the best female to ever play on grass. Can't say the same about Randy Andy. It's absurd to say Venus is done contending for the number one spot. She'll be number one before Roddick. Can't argue with that. Then why not say Andy is done contending for the number one spot? When it comes to tennis, I just don't understand you.

9-07-2009 @ 1:08AM

Darrell said...

Venus needs to stick with it, all she has ever done is show a grace and a style that hasn't been matched in tennis in a long time. Ever the fighter, she will play her heart out and not complain, she shows up and plays her best, if she is injured or not at her best you get that from the announcers not her. All of the Williams haters out there need to think.....what would the last decade been like if the two sisters weren't playing? Who would be the American females in the top 10, top 20 or even the top 50 now? Excuse me the William sisters have not stopped anyone from playing and moving up to represent America so would you rather have not had any representation in the top ten from American women for the better half of a decade? Maybe Oudin can take it to the next level, got to love her spunk but that's quite a bit of pressure to put on one American teenager.

9-07-2009 @ 2:36AM

One other thing to sat on this subject....look at the others who have left the sport, Hingis, Kim, and Jennifer....all have "Came Back" Hingis out because of drugs, Kim out "injures" Jennifer "burnt out" Kim at least has a chance to do something with her comeback. Maria S has had a reason to be out and has made what I think is a considerable comeback and is trying and I wish her the best. But at least the William sisters have stuck it out, they may have a little time off for injuries, for personal reasons whatever...these girls have had to deal with parents splitting up, violent death of a sister etc, but neither have said I give up... I am done with tennis...and now Justine is thinking of a comeback.....maybe the real reason all these got out was they knew at the time they couldn't contend with the two sisters. Cudos to Lindsay...she tried a comeback for the right reasons..a big babe tennis player who could hit with the best of them as well.

9-08-2009 @ 6:47PM

aeros05 said...

for the record Justine not only could contend with the "Sisters" but routinely beat them. That is why she was No.1 when she retired. She also had a unfairytale childhood and early adulthood but still played her heart out.

9-07-2009 @ 2:42AM

MeritaBread said...

Venus' left knee has been bothering her all tournament. She survived lesser competition on grit alone. The knee and a fresh Kim Clijsters were just too much. Besides, Clijsters looks like a Baltimore Ravens linebacker. Is it any wonder that the first lady of tennis lost to her?

9-07-2009 @ 2:52AM

totally agree, Kim off since 2005-2006 should be fresh, kinda like I said...people harp on Venus and Serena but neither have taken that much time off.....with that said Kim should win it just like Serena did the AO when everyone said she didnt have a chance....guess what she wont, Serena will eat her alive and remind her why she whimped out before :) I hope LOL

9-07-2009 @ 3:16AM

openstance said...

i was so mad when venus lost. so mad. she had so many chances to win and end points but she just didn't. it wasn't the knee that lost it for her. she still could've won in straights with it but she just didn't. but now after thought i really have begun to appreciate her just competing at this age. i think she is still good enough to be #1 again she just has to put it all together at the right time. she has most definitely aged well

9-07-2009 @ 6:38AM

jzz3skys said...

So now she's suddenly old, even though she won Wimbledon last year and the year before and she also won last year's WTA Championships, the most prestigious tourney after the Grand Slams.

Her knew problem is not age-related. Although she doesn't like to talk about it, it's believed to be patellar tendinitis, an overuse injury, not an age-related one, in fact, it's more common in younger people (as young as 10-14) and doesn't usually require surgery, it needs to be rested.

So it's illogical to use her infrequency of tour wins leading up to this year's Wimbledon (where she competed in the finals!) as evidence of sudden "aging."

She's 29. Both Williamses have had a resurgence in recent years. There's a slight double-standard when Andre Agassi was admired for hitting his stride in his 30s, winning his last Grand Slam at age 33. Jimmy Connors, same thing.

PATELLAR TENDINITIS

Incidence

• 15-30 years old
• More common in males
• Increases directly with amount of activity. An individual who plays activity 5 times a week is more likely to suffer than an individual who plays twice a week. Also aspects like poorly supporting footwear and playing on hard surfaces has to be taken into consideration.

http://www.soscentres.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=200&Itemid=203

9-07-2009 @ 7:11AM

Rita said...

you people need a reality check since when is a Clijsters win over Venus a upset Clijsters has beatin Venus when Venus was at the top of her game lets not put the leg injury in the equation either I dont think Venus would

9-07-2009 @ 9:24AM

Greg H. said...

Are these gals tested for steroids? Some of them look pretty big.

9-07-2009 @ 11:02AM

fishlover said...

In any sports even, there alway some one goes home and other will move on to next level. The fact matter is star rise and star fall, just only time will tells. no one will ever be number one for ever. eg. Tiger wood lose to number 77 under rank Koren. Can't just blame knee surge or injure. If some part of you body stop you from be the best then the best thing set out untill get better.

9-07-2009 @ 11:29AM

M.Patrick Parker said...

Ever notice how much Venus and her sister look almost exactly like Michael Strahan?

9-07-2009 @ 3:40PM

Anyone ever tell you how much you look and bray like a jackass?!!!

9-07-2009 @ 1:17PM

kevin said...

why is it that whenever a top notch player gets beat ,it was due to the injury . why can't they just say they got beat by someone better .cause to me it seems that injuries from a year ago always are the reason they lose .they should just say they got beat.go kim you won fair & square ,she just making excuses .

9-07-2009 @ 4:01PM

Venus made no excuse. She took her defeat like the champion she is. It is SO easy for couch sluggards like you to point fingers. Even with both knees injured and heavily wrapped, Venus would beat your lazy, out-of-shape ass in less than 10 minutes. Clijsters won, in part, because she was competing against a hobbled Venus Williams. When V.W. is 100%, her only real competition is her sister Serena. Be honest and admit the truth (if you have it in you to do so).

9-07-2009 @ 1:22PM

first lady of tennis .that's funny