via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 10, 2021 Venus Williams of the U.S. reacts after sustaining an injury during her second round match against Italy’s Sara Errani REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 10, 2021 Venus Williams of the U.S. reacts after sustaining an injury during her second round match against Italy’s Sara Errani REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Legendary American tennis player and seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has withdrawn from the upcoming WTA Italian Open. The qualifiers are underway at the tournament, and the main draw matches start tomorrow.
Williams has been struggling with form right from the start of 2021. Even last year, the American managed to clinch just one victory in the nine matches she played. She defeated Victoria Azarenka in the first round of the Top Seed Open.
via Getty
Venus Williams of USA plays a forehand during her round of 16 match against Lauren Davis of USA at the ASB Classic on January 03, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Also read: “Serena Williams Still Copies Everything That I Do” – Venus Williams
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Venus Williams struggles to find top-form this year
While the reason for her withdrawal is yet to be known, it’s evident that the American is not fully fit to compete again. In her second-round match against Sara Errani at the Australian Open this year, Venus had stumbled at the net while attempting a drive volley and injured her knee and ankle.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has maintained stun silence about her injuries throughout the career. Venus was first diagnosed with Sjorgen’s syndrome in 2011, an autoimmune disease that causes that severe joint pains.
Despite multiple injuries, the American still managed to reach the finals of the 2017 Australian Open, where she lost to her sister Serena. It was also the 23rd major title for Serena Williams, as she surpassed Steffi Graf’s record of 22 grand slam titles.
via Getty
Serena Williams of the United States is congratulated by her sister and opponent Venus Williams of the United States following their ladies singles third round match on Day Five of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
At the Italian Open this year, Venus was supposed to play against Karolina Pliskova in the first round. Due to the American’s withdrawal, Pliskova advances to the second round.
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Venus Williams withdrew from Rome (would face Pliskova) so a lucky loser will enter.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 9, 2021
This vacancy from Venus Williams allowed Kristina Mladenovic and Laura Siegemund to enter the tournament as lucky losers. Sloane Stephens, the 2019 French Open runner-up, lost in the qualifiers and failed to qualify for the main draw at Rome.
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While the tennis world awaits to see a monumental comeback by Venus Williams in the last leg of her career, it has become impossible for the veteran to produce high-quality tennis consistently at the big tournaments.
Also read: “Definitely Changed My Life”: Venus Williams Credits Sister Serena Williams for Turning Vegan
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