With all the talk of “enduring favourites” at The Championships 2015, it’s hard to know of any players who are as enduring, or as favourite, as Venus Williams.
At age 35, the former world No.1 and five-time champion is contesting her 18th Wimbledon - the most among any main draw player. It’s also Venus’ 67th appearance in a Grand Slam main draw overall, placing her second behind Amy Frazier (71) and equal to Martina Navratilova.
She’s making a spectacular job of it too. Near flawless in her 42-minute 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Madison Brengle (a countrywoman who is 10 years younger), Venus defeated Yulia Putintseva 7-6(5), 6-4 in the second round to record her 75th win at the Championships, meaning she now trails only Navratilova, with 120 wins, and Chris Evert, with 96, for Wimbledon victories.
And with a straight-sets win over Aleksandra Krunic, Venus not only advanced to the fourth round for the 13th time, but also set up a tantalising meeting with world No.1 sister Serena.
But astonishing as these prolific numbers are, Venus brings more to the game than mere numbers – and that’s where the “favoured” status comes in.
As Serena explained, the hard work her sister has undertaken to create tangible benefits for her colleagues has also provided an abundance of inspiration for the next generation of champions.
“She is a pioneer for not only tennis, but for women's rights, as well. Not only the Grand Slam titles she has, but she's done so much for this sport,” Serena said. “It's just been amazing for me to follow in her footsteps in terms of getting equal prize money here, just stepping up to the plate and being that person. It's good for everyone's morale.”
Most remarkable is the persistence Venus has displayed to not only endure, but still thrive, in the ever-improving women’s game. Diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder Sjogren’s Syndrome in 2011, Venus experienced a period of sorts in the tennis wilderness, failing to advance beyond the third round of a Grand Slam after Wimbledon 2011.
Venus Williams
But after beginning 2015 by winning her first title in almost a year at Auckland, Venus returned to some thrilling Grand Slam form as an Australian Open quarter-finalist.
It’s a comeback boosted by impressive discipline, Venus maintaining a vegan and raw foods diet (she calls herself a “cheegan”) to help manage inflammation and the energy sapping symptoms of Sjogren’s Syndrome.
Parallel to an enduring tennis career is a successful one as a businesswoman, with Venus the owner of interior design company V Starr Interiors and her own fashion label, eleVen (which she and other players wear on court).
Given the many career options and the sacrifices it takes to keep competing at such a high level, it’s reasonable to wonder how the American maintains her enthusiasm to remain in the game for so long. But quitting in the face of adversity simply isn’t part of Venus's nature.
“There's no such thing as giving up for me in my life,” she said.
Nor is there a place for Venus to dwell on her own challenges, with the older member of the Williams duo deflecting that discussion to focus on Serena. “She's been through so much. The awesome part is, no matter what she's been through, she's never complained,” she said of Serena, whose injury problems have also been well documented.
“You see players that continue to talk about injuries that are like nine thousand years old. She never complained once. You have to give her credit for that. She's gone through so much that no one could even imagine.”
Few would deny the positive example of persistence the elder Williams has set for Serena – even if she insists that she’s simply maximising the opportunity to make the most of a cherished career.
“I don't necessarily have an opinion about everyone else,” Venus said. “I just know that I give 100 per cent every day. I think that tennis players have the ability to play a longer time than they have in the past, and people are capitalising on it.
“It's a great job. It's fun out here. You can only do it for a little while in comparison to how long you won't be doing it. So that's my whole thing.”
Tennis is all the better for that attitude, particularly as the sisters prepared for their 26th career meeting. Five of those matches have occurred at Wimbledon, four of them in finals, where Serena’s 3-1 edge reflects her overall 14-11 lead in their head-to-head record.
Few would disagree – including Serena, who knows she’ll need her tenacious best to continue a successful record against her sister. “She's playing so well,” she said.
“I'm practising next to her every day and I'm in awe of how she's doing.”Fifteen years after they played the first of those Wimbledon matches in the 2000 semi-finals, Venus suggested the quality would be as high as ever. “I think we're both more mature,” she said. “Still as tenacious. I mean, back then we were definitely fun to watch. I think we still are.”
Serena is not the only one awestruck by a woman who 15 years after claiming the first of five Wimbledon titles, is showing an undeniable ability to win one more. For Venus is not simply a favourite in the women’s game, but one who could endure for some time yet.
