Venus Williams’ 24th Wimbledon campaign ends after defeat by Elina Svitolina in opening round

Moving on to the second round.@ElinaSvitolina beats five-time champion Venus Williams, 6-4, 6-3#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0JXnOuFxFX

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2023

Elina Svitolina continues her remarkable comeback after returning from maternity leave, achieving a significant victory over Venus Williams in the first round of Wimbledon. Despite facing the formidable 43-year-old Williams, a five-time champion at the grass-court Grand Slam, Svitolina displayed her resilience. Williams exhibited her fighting spirit, even overcoming a frightening fall early in the match, but ultimately, the former world No.3 emerged as the winner.

From the start, Williams took control with a 2-0 lead. However, during the third game, on Svitolina’s break point, she slipped and fell near the net, letting out a piercing scream that echoed throughout the court. Clearly, in agony, Williams stayed on the grass for a significant period, tenderly holding her wrapped right knee. It was a cruel turn of events for the American, who had just come back from injury, to encounter such hardship on the beloved grass court.

Undeterred by the setback, Williams summoned her resilience and bravely continued the match. Nevertheless, Svitolina had already built up momentum, winning an impressive four consecutive games. Despite having two opportunities to break Svitolina’s serve while the Ukrainian served for the first set, Venus couldn’t capitalize on either of those chances.

In the second set, Svitolina quickly established a commanding 5-1 lead. Nevertheless, Williams tapped into her remaining reserves of determination and staged a spirited comeback, winning two consecutive games. Despite Venus’ efforts, the resilient 76th-ranked Svitolina managed to secure another crucial break and converted her first match point, sealing the victory.

Despite the loss, she received a standing ovation from teh audience as she left teh court following the match. It is to note that in 1997, Williams participated in her first Wimbledon tournament, while a significant number of players in this year’s competition had not even been born yet. For instance, Svitolina, who is currently playing, was just two years old at that time.

Watch:

Appreciation for a great champion.

43-year-old @Venuseswilliams receives a standing ovation as she leaves Centre Court#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/YkOwxL8M2g

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2023

Svitolina, who is currently 28 years old, became a mother to her daughter Skai Monfils in October 2022. She is one of the five mothers participating in the singles main draw at Wimbledon, along with Victoria Azarenka, Tatjana Maria, Barbora Strycova, and Yanina Wickmayer. In her first match at Wimbledon, Svitolina wore the Adidas Lawn Dress Pro Dress, leading to speculation that she has switched clothing sponsors from Nike to Adidas. However, there hasn’t been an official announcement regarding this change yet.

FAQs:

Who is Elina Svitolina?
Elina Svitolina, hailing from Ukraine, is a highly skilled tennis player who has achieved a remarkable career. At her peak, she reached the prestigious No. 3 ranking in the world, according to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Svitolina’s success includes securing 16 WTA singles titles, notably capturing the 2017 WTA Finals championship.

How old is Venus Williams?
Venus Ebony Starr Williams, born on June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, California, is currently 42 years old as of July 4, 2023. Venus embarked on her professional tennis career in 1994 and has achieved remarkable success, securing a total of seven Grand Slam singles titles, with five of them being triumphs at Wimbledon. Additionally, she has excelled in doubles competitions, clinching an impressive 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, all of which were accomplished alongside her sister Serena.