The elder, pioneering Williams sister was being written off. But she triumphed on court from perilous positions, despite preparing by fighting off-court battles for all female players
Before there was ever Serena Williams, there was Venus. These days it can be easy to forget that, removed as we are 12 years from Venus’s seventh and last slam triumph, at Wimbledon in 2008. As Serena has risen from star to cultural icon, Venus continues to compete but she is nearly 40 now. She is nearly at her end.
Fifteen years ago, many concluded she was already there. Venus arrived at Wimbledon in 2005 having suffered the embarrassment of being outplayed at Roland Garros by a 15-year-old from Bulgaria named Sesil Karatantcheva. The American had tumbled from the top 10. She was struggling. People argued that her outside interests were eating her game from within, pointing out that she had reached her first slam final aged just 17. Perhaps it made sense that she was done at 25.
After starting timidly at Wimbledon, Williams’s level hit the stratosphere. She marched to the final by sidestepping the No 2, Maria Sharapova, in a loud, combative, unforgettable classic. At the final hurdle stood the No 1, Lindsay Davenport, perhaps the cleanest ball-striker the sport has ever seen. As the contest unfolded, Davenport took control, easily matching her opponent’s power and with added, vicious precision. The 29-year-old served for the title at 6-4, 6-5.
Written by Tumaini Carayol
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/21/my-favourite-game-venus-williams-v-lindsay-davenport-2005-wimbledon-final under the title “My favourite game: Venus Williams v Lindsay Davenport, 2005 Wimbledon final | Tumaini Carayol”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
