ESPNtennis.com Jun 30, 2023, 2:48 p.m. Reading: 2 min.
pure history. Venus Williams, just turned 43, will increase the historical record of being the tennis player, between women and men, with the most Grand Slams played in singles. The American has already played 91 and will reach 92 in her debut at Wimbledonwhere he was crowned five times in the individual event.
Venus, 43, will play her Grand Slam No. 92 in singles, at Wimbledon 2023.Getty Images
Former world No. 1 in singles and doubles, Venus Williams played a Grand Slam for the first time at Roland Garros in 1997, still 16 years old. She quickly stood out on the professional circuit, since in the third Major she played, the 1997 US Open, she reached her first final in a major tournament.
The older Williams was largely eclipsed by her younger sister Serena, who won 23 Grand Slam singles and was more successful than her. But Venus also made her way, starting to stand out before Serena, who she is a year older than. Likewise, together they made history in doubles.
Venus played 16 Grand Slam singles finals, going 7-9 in definitions. She won Wimbledon five times (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008) and the US Open twice (2000 and 2001). And she spent 20 years between the first and the last of her finals in the maximum dates, since she last time she fell in Wimbledon 2017.
She played more than once against Serena in finals and decisive rounds and now, after injuries and inactivity, she has fallen to No. 1,338 in the WTA world ranking. For this reason, she needed to receive a special invitation from the Wimbledon organization to be able to participate in the singles main draw.
This performance at Wimbledon will be Venus’s 24th performance on the mythical lawn of the All England Club, in London. To reach the 92 Major played by her, she also did it 24 times at Roland Garros, so now she will equal the most participation mark of hers in a major championship. She also played the US Open 23 times and the Australian Open 21 times.
Wimbledon delivered 10 wild cards and one was received by Venus Williams. Precisely, her rival in the first round will be the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who was grateful to have another invitation from the All England Club. She was absent last year due to her pregnancy and now she will play being a mother, since she had a daughter with the French colleague Gael Monfils. Undoubtedly, a special duel for both.
2023-06-30 17:48:00
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