My Tennis Heroes Video clip Score: 4 / five
Tag: Williams
Venus Williams back after illness
It was with much admiration that tennis fans cheered Venus Williams return to grand slam victory as she overcame a first round scare to secure her place in the second round of the French Open. The eight time grand slam winner and twenty one grand slams in all types of tennis, has been out of the game since being diagnosed with a fatigue inducing chronic illness called Sjorgrens disease. After returning to the game around six months ago, Venus has taken some courageous steps in her attempts to return to the number one spot in women’s tennis.
After her absence she has fallen to number 52 in the world rankings, however her victory over Argentinean Paula Ormaecha over three sets (4-6 6-1 6-3). Williams had a shaky start to the game and was unable to recreate her powerful serving game until the second set where she was able to find some rhythm and began to dominate the game in typical William sister fashion, before finishing her opponent in the third set with a convincing 6-3 victory.
The thirty one year old American who is sister to world number five Serena Williams, is hoping to put in a strong performance at the French Open before returning to her most prolific tournament at Wimbledon which she has won five times, with the last victory coming in 2008. If Venus can re capture her performance level before the lengthy hiatus from the game, she will certainly be a big contender going into the Wimbledon championship. In term of success at the French open this may come in the form of making it into the later rounds and testing her fitness levels ahead of a summer of tennis.
VENUS TO PLAY AT FAMILY CIRCLE
The Family Circle Cup, scheduled to take place between the 31st of March and the 1st of April just got a superstar boost in the form of former world number one Venus Williams who confirmed her participation in the event to be held on Daniel Island.
Samantha Stosur, the current world number five will defend her crown at the event and Russian beauty Vera Zvonareva will also be playing in the tournament but the addition of home favorite Venus to the event adds a much required star charisma to the event.
This will be the first time that Venus will play at the hard courts of Tennis Centre where she last played and won the title way back in 2004. Venus is hoping to get her form and fitness level up after returning to professional tennis in the Fed Cup tie against Belarus, having already missed the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. Venus Williams is extremely excited about returning to the event after such a long gap and she couldn’t hide her happiness in the press meet where she said that she was extremely pleased to be back.
What makes Venus’s participation in the tournament all the more appealing is the fact the Original 9 will be felicitated and recognized for their contribution to the world of women’s tennis. Speaking about the recognition for the original 9, Venus said that it was a great gesture on part of the WTA because without these people, women’s professional tennis would not have scaled the heights it has over the years.
Not only was the American pleased at being able to play at the event, the hosts are also excited to have Venus Williams on board, which means that more and more people will line up to see the event.
VENUS WITHDRAWS FROM AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Venus Williams, seven-time Grand Slam winner, has withdrawn from playing in this year’s Australian Open. She has been plagued with injuries since the middle of the 2010 season. Besides, she has been struggling with her fight against Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease.
The disease is caused from fatigue and joint pains, something that the tennis star has often faced in her long and illustrious career. The disease is characterized by a loss of energy and severe joint pains.
She posted on her personal website, mentioning that she won’t be taking part in the upcoming Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the calendar year. She also said that while she has been out of the competitive circuit for over 5 months, she has been in intensive training and has been under constant supervision and treatment.
She hopes to return to competitive fitness in quick time. Due to her absence from the professional circuit, her ranking has been constantly slipping. She also pulled out of the WTA event held in Auckland. In fact, she hasn’t played professionally since August 2011.
Venus Williams in the Australian Open
Venus Williams may have to sit out most of last season due to prolonged illness and injuries but the seven time Grand Slam winner will definitely be back on court for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, the Australian Open that begins Down Under on the 16th of January, 2012 according to the director of the tournament, Craig Tiley. Although the older of the two Williams sisters withdrew from a tournament in New Zealand that was supposed to be a practice tournament for her before the Australian Open due to illness, she will travel to Australia for the first major tournament of the year, a title that she won way back in 2003.
The 101st ranked player in the world, Venus has been receiving treatment for an auto immune disease that doctors have termed as Sjogren’s syndrome for the last couple of months pulled out of the tournament in New Zealand that is scheduled between the 2nd and 7th of January, according to the organizers. But Craig Tiley said that both the Williams sisters will travel to Australia for the Grand Slam.
Venus Williams, who has been a champion at Wimbledon a staggering five times played in only four tournaments in 2011 due to the illness and was also suffering from a hip injury that made her miss four months of action in the last calendar year. But according to her representative, she is fit and raring to go as she aims to climb up the WTA rankings from 101.
This is the lowest ranking that she has managed in 15 years of professional tennis and Venus Williams aims to set things into perspective by winning the first Grand Slam tournament of the year and win a tournament that she has been the winner only once in her career.
Serena Williams VS Samantha Stosur — Matchpoint — Final – US Open 2011
My Tennis Heroes Video clip Score: 4 / five