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Venus Explains US Open First Round Flop
10 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Venus Williams played in her 100th US Open match on Tuesday and it ended up being the worst loss she ever suffered in Flushing Meadows.
The 43 year old was dismantled by a Belgian qualifier named Greet Minnen by a score of 61 61 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Williams, who played in the 1997 US Open final on Ashe Stadium – 26 years ago – is not ready to retire just yet though. “You should always go for your dreams. For me, I haven’t had a lot of chances to play this year or last year. The key for me is to just stay healthy and gain some momentum.”
To do that Williams will need a lot more wildcard gifts to enter WTA tournaments because her ranking is outside the top 500.
Williams hasn’t got past the US Open first round since 2019. She won her first 21 first round matches at US Open.
Venus is 7-29 since 2019. (now 7-30)
Williams sort of praised Minnen’s performance. “There wasn’t a shot she couldn’t make. Even when I hit amazing shots, she just hit a winner or a drop shot. My preparation was definitely minimal but I don’t think it necessarily affected the bulk of my performance. There are just shots where my footwork wasn’t there. A lot of backhands I missed where my feet just weren’t there. That’s normal when you don’t spend a lot of time on court.”
Venus, the proud champion she is, prefers to think it was bad luck that harpooned her performance rather than declining reflexes and fitness. “Honestly, I just had some really bad luck. I don’t think it was my body not holding up, it was just really bad luck with injuries. There were things I couldn’t control.”
“I love playing here. I really gave it my all. I really played some great shots but she had some incredible answers. I wish I could have been more prepared for that…. my year didn’t go the way, in any way, shape or form, that I thought it would. I was really getting good momentum into Wimbledon. That fall (at Wimbledon vs. Elina Svitolina) really threw me for a loop for the summer.”
Venus has played 356 career Grand Slam matches, second to her younger sister Serena who played 423 in the Open Era. She turned pro in 1994.
Minnen, age 26, was born a week before Venus started her 1997 US Open run to the final.
Minnen was very respectful of her adversary after the win. “In 1997 Venus had played a final here and I was just born. For me, it was just incredible to play a legend like her. I have huge respect for her to be out there at 43 years old. It’s amazing, really.”
Greet Minnen · US Open · USA · Venus Williams · Wilson tennis
Cyndy · September 1, 2023 at 1:06 pm
Scoop Maliknowski——I had watched that match and it seemed pretty one sided and I did feel that Venus should have retired prior .. i was surprised that she was at the USOpen tbh…. She has achieved what she had to and don’t need to prove further… it was good while she was in the limelight.
Scoop Malinowski · September 1, 2023 at 5:37 pm
Cyndy, Richard Williams said both of his daughters would be done with tennis by 30. Serena once said at a press conference when she was 27 that if she was still playing pro tennis at 37, to drag her off the court. She said this at a Wimbledon press conference, which I included in my Facing Serena Williams book. So I reckon even Serena is slightly baffled that her big sister is still trying to play at 43 though there is nothing left to prove. Maybe she’s addicted to the fame and limelight, because if she really truly loved the purity of the tennis aspect, she would go down to low level ITFs to rebuild her ranking and confidence.
Scoop Malinowski · September 2, 2023 at 6:00 pm
“Pere is like a fire, eyeing for perfection and strong personality just like me, but then we had more conflicts.
Wim is a mountain, calm and easygoing, which fits me very well for now.” — Zheng Qinwen talks about former coach Pere Riba and now Wim Fissette.
Sam · September 2, 2023 at 7:42 pm
Actually, I bet Serena isn’t that baffled that his bro is still playing. Probably realizes that Venus doesn’t have that much excitement going on in his life off the court. 😏
Scoop Malinowski · September 2, 2023 at 7:59 pm
Your theory holds water Sam as does the theory that Osaka faked the pregnancy and baby bump photoshop scam. Since the alleged birth of the Osaka baby, there’s been no photos or any information from her or the alleged father. Fakery in tennis is reality.
Scoop Malinowski · September 3, 2023 at 7:42 am
Sam, other suspects – big mike, Katarina Stewart, Kaia Kanepi, Luksika Kumkum, Peangtarn Plipeuch.
Sam · September 5, 2023 at 4:48 pm
Interesting, Scoop. Hadn’t been keeping up with Osaka. Not ruling it out, but I haven’t seen anything to make me believe that Osaka is a man, though. So, why do you think she faked a pregnancy?
Well, Big Mike—we know the truth about him. 🤮 That’s probably why Obama’s personal chef got knocked off about a month ago—his body was actually found on their property!! 😳
I know who Kanepi is, but have never heard of the other three. Will have to check out some photos of them. Like you’ve said, it’s okay to question everything these days. 🧐
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2023 at 6:06 pm
Sam, Osaka is female no doubt, my theory is she may have faked the pregnancy to change her image, all the BLM and political activism alienated much of her fan base, by becoming a mother it could change her image and how fans respond to her. Before BLM everyone loved her, after BLM fans tell me, ‘I used to love her, now I can’t stand her.” I feel the same way. Still waiting to see the baby photos and if the father acknowledges the baby or fake baby.
Sam · September 9, 2023 at 3:59 pm
Okay, that makes sense, Scoop. Yeah, if her pregnancy seems sketchy, then it probably is. 🧐
Scoop Malinowski · September 9, 2023 at 7:42 pm
Pregnancy looks as fishy and suspect as today’s final.