Sunday, 8 July, 2007
Venus Williams has joined an elite group by winning the Ladies’ Championship for a fourth time and there is every possibility that, over the coming years, she can improve her position amongst Wimbledon’s great champions. Her four singles titles are more than any other active player on the tour. Those with better records than hers in the Open era are Martina Navratilova with her record nine, Steffi Graf with seven, and Billie Jean King with six. But Venus has overtaken two other greats of the game, Chris Evert and Margaret Court, who each have three titles. Venus’s victory over Marion Bartoli might not have been a classic but it was the final chapter in a fortnight of drama as a result of weather-affected schedules. The American was forced to play her way into form as she arrived at The Championships with a low ranking, resulting in her lowly seeding of 23. On paper she was not in the race for the title but seedings and rankings do not take into consideration character and determination, something that she and her sister Serena have in abundance. Venus was also a surprise winner of Wimbledon in 2005, having previously won in 2000 and 2001, and has the perfect game for grass. Her height gives her a powerful serve and a long reach which, coupled with her speed about the court and the vast experience she has gathered over the 12 years she has been a professional player, will always make her a contender and a difficult player to beat. Interestingly she has only been beaten in a Wimbledon final by her sister, Serena, in 2002 and 2003, in what were the only Championship finals contested by siblings since Maud Watson defeated her sister Lydia in 1884, the first ever ladies’ final. Venus now predicts that providing both remain healthy, the two sisters will be back in contention for more major titles, including Wimbledon. "It's my sixth Slam and I want some more," Venus said. "When it comes to Wimbledon I have more but on the overall count I have less [six to Serena’s eight]. We motivate each other; we love each other and inspire each other, so another Williams final could happen again.” Saturday’s achievement was also remarkable in that, seeded 23, she is the lowest seed to win the title since seeding was introduced, a distinction she already held by winning her third title when 14th two years ago. Anyone watching her after her victory cannot deny that Wimbledon and its Venus Rosewater dish mean a lot to her. The whoops of joy and the giggles as she clutched the dish to her chest were schoolgirlish, much as were the leaps of joy she produced in 2005 when she defeated Lindsey Davenport 9-7 in the third set. She saved two match points in that epic two hours and 45 minutes final, the longest ladies’ singles final in Championship history. Venus can never be discounted in a tournament, even if some pundits might believe she has passed her peak. This year she has emphasised that fact very firmly, rising to the occasion as all great champions tend to do. "This one is different," she said after her victory. "In the others I was playing championship form from day one but this year I had to overcome challenges like being seeded low.” She also knew she had to improve on her opening match performances, which were poor by her standard. “It's wonderful,” she said as she continued to enjoy the occasion and the accolades. "I was so glad it was the last match because I was done. I'm very tired but I feel on top of the world." Venus will be back next year, eager to improve her tally, as will her sister. And one thing is for certain, the Williams dynasty hasn’t ended yet. Winners of Most Ladies' Singles Championships 9 - Martina Navratilova (USA)*
8 - Helen Wills/Moody (USA)
7 - Dorothy Douglass/Chambers (BRI)
7 - Steffi Graf (GER)*
6 - Blanche Bingley/Hillyard (BRI)
6 - Suzanne Lenglen (FRA)
6 - Billie Jean King (USA)*
5 - Lottie Dod (BRI)
5 - Charlotte Cooper/Sterry (BRI)
4 - Althea Brough (USA)
4 - Venus Williams (USA)* * Denotes Open era ladies champions (after prize money was introduced in 1968). Billie Jean King won singles titles before and after prize money was introduced. Written by Henry Wancke
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