Venus wins her third Wimbledon

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 07/14/2005

Venus Williams, the oldest of the superstar tennis sisters, is back on top again. All Wimbledon did by seeding her fourteenth was anger her, totally disrespecting this proud champion. We’re talking about a previous two-time champion basically written off before the championship began.

 Her younger sister Serena has struggled with a bothersome ankle injury this year, and it appears that many have forgotten about Venus. She had not won a major tennis title since winning the United States Open in 2001. She was a finalist at Wimbledon in 2003.

 Yes, she was written off in many circles, especially after losing in this summer’s French Open. “I felt a lot of negativity,” Williams said. She won the 2000 and 2001 Wimbledon Singles title and still was seeded fourteenth.

 If you missed breakfast at Wimbledon a couple of weeks ago Saturday, you missed one of the great tennis matches ever.

 Venus has endured the loss of her half sister and a number of injuries, but she obviously has the heart of a champion. And when it appeared she could not win, she summoned the inner toughness and commitment and passion to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

 It was a match to remember: Williams became the lowest seeded women’s champion in history to win the greatest prize in tennis. It took a record two hours and 45 minutes, the longest women’s final ever; Williams was matched up at center court against Lindsay Davenport.

 The drama of this match was of epic proportions. Davenport, the world’s number-one player, has also had to overcome her share of career injuries. Davenport was serving for the match in the tenth game of the third set when she led 6-5 in the second.

 Down match point, Williams survived with a gutsy backhand winner, and then came all the way back to win the match 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 9-7. The third set was the longest (16 games) in a Wimbledon Women’s Final since 1949.

 Williams was the first woman since 1935 to win the Wimbledon title after facing match point in the final. It was simply one of the best finals ever, filled with hard-hitting, exhausting baseline rallies. It was a slugfest, and Williams out-slugged Davenport.

 Venus celebrated her victory with grace and by jumping for joy. It was her fifth career Grand Slam title; only three players have won more Wimbledon titles all-time than Venus. When you win Wimbledon and hold that historic trophy, you are the champion of the year.

 Anderson signs with Bobcats

 Minneapolis native and Michigan State graduate Alan Anderson has signed a free agent contract with the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA.

  Farewell to Fairway Jack

 Our community has lost another great man. Jack Smith, longtime member of the Twin Cities Golf Club, died last week at age 89. Smith hit the golf ball so straight so often he was called Fairway Jack. Smith was the only man to play in every Bronze Memorial Golf Tournament. He will be missed.