Williams still grabbing her opportunities at U.S. Open
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[September 06, 2017]
By Steve Keating
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Now 37 and in the
twilight of a sparkling career, the opportunities Venus Williams
lives for are not supposed to come around as often as they once did.
But there Williams was on Tuesday battling and grabbing her chances
when they came, capitalizing on just enough of them to secure a 6-3
3-6 7-6(2) win over Petra Kvitova and a spot in the U.S. Open
semi-finals.
"Sometimes you have opportunities and sometimes you take them and
you don't, but it's not like you get opportunity after opportunity
after opportunity in these sorts of matches," said Williams. "You
have to take the ones you have."
Williams has taken those words to heart in a renaissance season that
has seen her reach the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals and sit
just one victory away, against American compatriot Sloane Stephens,
from playing for the U.S. Open title for the first time since 2002.
It has been nine years since Williams celebrated the last of her
seven grand slam singles wins and 16 since she last lifted the U.S.
Open title and remains as hungry for trophies as ever.
"I'm still living my dream, and it's amazing," said Williams.
It did not always seem like it on Tuesday, particularly during a
fluctuating second set when Williams was unable to put away her 13th
seeded opponent, who had beaten her four times in five meetings.
"You know, definitely when I had opportunities in the second set and
so many break points disappearing, you feel like, wow, I should be
doing more," said Williams. "You have to put it behind you.
"It's about winning the match you're in. Doesn't matter whether
you're playing well or not playing well. It's about figuring out how
to win.
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Venus Williams of the United States celebrates after match point
against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic on day nine of the U.S. Open
tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
"These big matches there have been times where I have
won these and there have been times I didn't win them."
Williams has been winning much more than losing this year putting
together a 34-10 match record.
But the records Williams is piling up now are the 'oldest this' and
'oldest that'. Longevity brings its own recognition but winning
remains the ultimate goal.
Life has moved on for Williams. Sister Serena, a six-time U.S. Open
champion, is not in Flushing Meadows after giving birth to her first
child and many of the players Williams is facing at the U.S. Open
grew up watching and idolizing her.
A role model, Williams led four American women into the
quarter-finals and hopes all four will reach the semi-finals.
Williams and Stephens booked their places and on Wednesday CoCo
Vandeweghe and Madison Keys will try to do the same.
"All I have known all my life was great American players," said
Williams. "So it's great to see this resurgence, and I hope it can
continue."
(Editing by Sudipto Ganguly) [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
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