Venus Williams believes her big game experience will prove
decisive as the American star bids to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in
Saturday’s Wimbledon final against Garbine Muguruza.
At an age when her contemporaries have long since retired,
Williams is playing some of the best tennis of her glittering career and she
can cap her remarkable renaissance on Centre Court this weekend.
Back in the All England Club final after an eight-year
absence, the 37-year-old hopes to become both the oldest Wimbledon and major
winner since the Open era began in 1968.
“There’s times where maybe you aren’t as relaxed as other
moments, but it’s about handling it. I know how to do that a lot better,” said
Venus ahead of her 16th major final.
“For me it’s just about betting on myself every time. When I
look across the net, I don’t think it’s the right mentality to believe in that
person more than me.”
Earning a sixth Wimbledon title, nine years after she last
lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish, must have seemed like an impossible dream for
Williams when she battled an autoimmune disease that left her fatigued and
threatened to force her out of tennis.
Yet, in the twilight of her career, Venus has hit a rich
vein of form over the last 12 months.
She was Australian Open runner-up in January to sister
Serena, only to have her life thrown into turmoil last month when she was
accidently involved in a car crash in Florida that led to the death of an
elderly man.
A less strong-willed personality would have gone into
hiding, but Venus, after choking back tears when asked about the incident at
the start of Wimbledon, has taken solace in her tennis.
“There were definitely some issues. There’s definitely a lot
of ups and downs,” she said.
“I just try to hold my head up high, no matter what is
happening in life. In sport especially, you have injuries. You have illnesses.
“I feel very focused still. I like to take courage in the
fact that I’ve been playing well this tournament.”
Having crushed Johanna Konta with a masterful semi-final
victory that made her the oldest Wimbledon finalist for 23 years, Venus
admitted she is relishing her return to prominence when many had written her
off.
“I’ve played some good tennis in different points of my
life. I think it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to play well and to be
strong,” she said.
“Experience can either work against you or for you. I like
to think it’s working for me.
“This year has been amazing in terms of my play, playing
deep into the big events.
“I’m definitely in the position I want to be in. It’s a long
two weeks. Now I’m knocking on the door for a title. This is where I want to
be.”
Courage
With Serena absent from Wimbledon while she prepares to have
her first child later this year, Venus has seized the opportunity to impose her
ferocious will to win on a series of opponents almost half her age.
Now she will lean on Serena for advice on how to vanquish
former French Open champion Muguruza, who lost to Venus’s sister in the
Wimbledon final two years ago.
“I miss her so much. I try to take the same courage on the
court that she would have,” Venus said.
“I’m sure she’s going to give me hopefully some things that
will make a difference for me in the match.”
Inspired by her decision to hire compatriot Conchita
Martinez as her temporary coach for Wimbledon, Muguruza has enjoyed a revival
of her own over the last fortnight.
Since winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open
last year, Muguruza had endured something of a sophomore slump as her ranking
dropped out of the top 10.
Martinez became the only Spanish woman to win Wimbledon in
1994 and her soothing words of wisdom have guided Muguruza to her third Grand
Slam final.
Beating in-form Venus in their first meeting on grass will
be her toughest test, but the Spanish 14th seed is convinced she can emulate
her coach’s memorable triumph.
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