It was a nail-biting, stomach-fluttering contest the whole way. Now, I joined the tournament late, didn't see Venus' 6-0 3rd set vs. Kvitova. So I didn't think anything about it, when Venus came out with her right calf taped.
But then Lindsey Davenport, calling the match, said the wrap is new, and throughout the match, it seemed that pushing off was a problem for Venus. She did not have the court coverage we're accustomed to.
Years ago I had the thought that Venus was akin to the Jaquar car--sleek, speedy, powerful, yet in the shop a lot. A picture of her inconsistencies. She had close to 60 unforced errors. After being at the wrong end of the first set, I'm seeing her down 0-2 and love-30 in the 2nd and saying to myself, "I'll just watch until she's 0-4, then quit.
From that point she got back into things and took the 2nd set.
Now I don't need to point out to but a few that Canadian Alex Wozniak is not the sane player as former #1 Caroline Wozniacki.
Alex is not a 1st class player, a wild card here, not the fastest, not the most penetrating, not a huge server. The sort who might say to herself, "Well, I can't beat Venus, but maybe I can hang around while Venus beats herself".
So Venus is down in the 3rd 4-5, with Alex serving...and OMG, a deus ex machina as Alex gets nervous and throws in 2 double faults.
It goes to a tiebreaker, fairly even until Ms. Williams takes a 6-4 lead. She doesn't get the 1st match point. Now we know Venus, at her
best, is the most powerful first-server in the game, but all match, except for very few 116mph blasts, that right calf just couldn't produce the explosiveness we're used to seeing. Nevertheless, she saved her best for last, prevailing with a 119 mph beauty.
She'll be in action tomorrow vs, either Hantuchova or Ivanevic, both beatable, but who knows which Venus will be available, if any.
Whatever happens, what a wonderful career, our 5-time Wimbledon champ. God bless.
