JABAR EKSPRES – Venus Williams came close to reaching her first WTA quarter-final in four years before the American legend was beaten by Jelena Ostapenko in the second round in Birmingham on Thursday local time.
Williams enjoyed her first win over a top-50 ranked player in four years on Monday (6/19), when the former world number one beat Camila Giorgi in her opening match in Birmingham.
However, the 43-year-old and seven-time Grand Slam champion was unable to make it two wins in a row as she succumbed 3-6, 7-5, 3-6 to Latvia’s Ostapenko in the last 16.
Williams saved a match point at 3-5 in the second set, then took three games in a row as second seed Ostapenko lost her rhythm.
After Williams took a 2-0 lead in the deciding set, the five-time Wimbledon winner looked on course to make the last eight.
But Ostapenko, a former Wimbledon semifinalist, changed her game and ultimately dashed Williams’ hopes of boosting her motivation ahead of the start of Wimbledon on July 3.
READ ALSO : Ukrainian President Signs Bill Banning Book Imports from Russia, Belarus
“Of course I could have finished it a little bit faster. I was a little disappointed after match point in the second set. But Venus is a great player, a great champion and it’s an honor to share the court with her,” said former French Open winner Ostapenko, as broadcast AFP, Friday.
“She’s a very dangerous player, especially on grass. She serves very well.”
“It was a bit difficult, but I’m very happy that I made it and I fought until the last point. She’s an idol for a lot of people so it’s very special.”
Williams is hoping to recover from a knee injury she sustained in Birmingham after gaining a wild card entry for Wimbledon, where she made her debut in 1997 and reached her last Grand Slam final in 2017.
