July 03, (THEWILL) – Venus Williams, the five-time Wimbledon champion, made a remarkable return to the All-England after 25 years since her first victory at SW19.
However, the 43-year-old American was unable to recapture her past glory as she suffered a defeat in the first round against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. Although she won both of the opening two games, Williams encountered a setback when her right knee gave way during a volley. Nevertheless, displaying her unwavering warrior spirit, she continued to fight on.
Her 28-year-old opponent, Svitolina, capitalised on the opportunity and secured a 6-4 6-3 victory, advancing to the next round. The Ukrainian, born after Venus’s first appearance at Wimbledon, exhibited her sharp skills and won four consecutive games to claim the opening set.
Williams received treatment for her knee before the start of the second set but faced an immediate setback when she dropped serve with a forehand error. The Centre Court crowd, offering vocal support, recognised Venus’s enduring talent, with one fan shouting: “You’ve still got it, Venus.”
Despite her valiant efforts to extend her Grand Slam singles match count of 355, second only to the 423 record of her sister, Serena, Svitolina proved too formidable. With a commanding 5-1 lead, Svitolina powered on to victory, leaving Williams to bid what might be a final farewell to the crowd as she walked off the court.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
