At forty-one years [112] Venus Williams is the oldest player in the 2021 Wimbledon women’s draw. Let’s take a look at her resume.
Venus Williams Is A Legend
The American owns 73 titles combined: forty-nine singles WTA titles, twenty-two doubles titles, and two mixed doubles titles. In 2002, Williams was ranked number one. Things took a turn for her in 2009 when she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome. Yet, Williams loves to play tennis and she is determined to keep playing.
At What Cost To Her Body
2016 was the last time Williams won a title; yet, she came extremely close in 2017, she was the other finalist at the Australian Open. In 2017 she was also a finalist at Wimbledon and the WA Finals. If, that little word with so much meaning, only she had won one of those titles. Since then it has been a battle against time and injury. She has had knee and elbow problems, a combination no doubt of age and the disease that she continues to deal with on a daily basis. The extent of the damage and discomfort can only be known by Williams and those closest to her.
What Can We Expect From Venus?
In 2019 she played Mihaela Buzarnescu in the first round of the Australian Open and it was a tight three-setter won by Williams. Buzarnescu, like Williams, has had her share of illness and injury and has fallen to a ranking of one hundred and sixty-one. On Monday they will renew their acquaintance in the first round of Wimbledon. Who will prevail this time? On grass, you still have to give Williams the slight advantage despite her recent results. However, it depends on two particularly important things: her serve is working, and she is not hampered by her recurring knee and arm issues.
ALL IMAGES: Getty Images
