Venus Williams‘ tennis continues to captivate her admirers even at the age of 43. Despite her inability to clinch matches on a consistent basis against the younger crop of players, the legend manages to win over spectators simply with her presence on the court. The outcomes may not be in her favor, but the older Williams sister never fails to put up a fight even when her body fails her.
The former World No. 1 was drawn to face compatriot Madison Keys in the first round of the ongoing Rogers Cup. The 43-year-old entered the match as a heavy underdog as Keys has been one of the consistent players on the tour. But, despite losing in straight sets, the gritty Venus made her opponent work hard for the triumph.
Venus Williams saved 8 match points against Madison Keys
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The first set of the match was pretty lopsided, as Venus was off to a slow start. She ended up losing the opener 6-2. However, the second set saw a much more intense battle. Despite trailing for most of the set, Venus extended her playing time on the court in her own way. She stopped Keys from serving it out at 5-4 and got the crowd going with her fighting spirit.
In total, Venus saved 8 match points before eventually succumbing to Keys. But her efforts did not go in vain, as she spent time doing what she loves and won over her fans once again. The relief on Keys’ face after converting the 9th match point showed how much the win meant to her, and how difficult it is to still take on the 43-year-old.
View this post on Instagram
The grueling match was another addition to what has already been a hectic few days for Venus. Owing to the airport authorities’ negligence, she found herself in an almost crisis. However, she still managed to get on the court and gave everything she had.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Williams’ luggage takes a different route
When Venus arrived in Toronto for the tournament, she could not find her luggage. After plenty of calls and emails, she learned that her luggage had accidentally landed in the Bahamas instead. The seven-time major champion tried to claim her bags for three days, but the airlines did not cooperate.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Despite her off-court woes, Venus still entered the court with a rather unique look. She donned a red kit with a white cap from her own brand, ‘Eleven’. Along with the red kit, she also put on some striking red lipstick before taking to the main court in Montreal, where he battled it out against Keys.
WATCH THIS STORY: Distressing Serena Williams Reality Leaves Gaping Void That’s Nearly Impossible to Fill for Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek