Dunkirk101
06-04-2006, 04:17 PM
Williams a 'lone flag waving gently in the wind'
Venus Williams survived to the second week at the French Open, making her one of a kind.
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2357/untitled4sx.png (http://imageshack.us)
Going for her first title at Roland Garros in her 10th try, Williams earned a berth in the quarterfinals by coming back to beat No. 7-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Sunday.
Williams is the last American in the tournament after James Blake lost to Gael Monfils of France 6-2, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-4.
U.S. men have often struggled on clay, but the poor showing on the women's side at Roland Garros is something new. For the first time in 12 years, the 11th-seeded Williams is the lone woman to reach the fourth round.
"Lone flag waving gently in the wind," she said.
A five-time Grand Slam champion, Williams is into the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the fifth time. Her best finish was in 2002, when she lost the final to sister Serena, who is sidelined by a chronic knee injury.
The reigning Wimbledon champion, Venus is optimistic about her chances on the slower Roland Garros surface.
She made 19 unforced errors in the first set against Schnyder, then a total of 16 over the last two sets. Williams was impressive at the net, using all of her length to reach for a volley winner at 4-2 in the third set. On the next point, Williams ended a 19-stroke exchange with a reflex volley.
"Obviously, I like to play aggressively. It's very effective on the clay," she said. "I can still run a lot of balls down, take some pace off if I have to."
It helps that she's healthy again. After being upset in the first round of the Australian Open in January, Williams was sidelined for 3 1/2 months because of arm injuries, including to her right elbow. Williams returned for the clay season last month, reaching the quarterfinals at Warsaw and semifinals at Rome, where she lost a three-setter to Martina Hingis.
"I've had some decent, really solid results so far this whole clay-court season," said Williams, seeking her first title this year.
"It's really about stepping it up at the right time," she said. "No matter what level I may be playing at, to know that I can take it to the next level, it's really a secure feeling."
Williams has 33 career titles, including three at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open, and she won 2000 Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles.
But injuries have stalled her career at times, including when a stomach muscle pull kept her off the courts from July to November 2003.
"I don't like the stopping and starting," Williams said. "It's not fun. I like doing what I do. Losing bits and pieces out of my career is not ideal, but it happens.
"I'm just looking forward to this year, just staying healthy, really, really getting into the groove." <end>
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=ap-frenchopen-williams&prov=ap&type=lgns
Venus Williams survived to the second week at the French Open, making her one of a kind.
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2357/untitled4sx.png (http://imageshack.us)
Going for her first title at Roland Garros in her 10th try, Williams earned a berth in the quarterfinals by coming back to beat No. 7-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Sunday.
Williams is the last American in the tournament after James Blake lost to Gael Monfils of France 6-2, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-4.
U.S. men have often struggled on clay, but the poor showing on the women's side at Roland Garros is something new. For the first time in 12 years, the 11th-seeded Williams is the lone woman to reach the fourth round.
"Lone flag waving gently in the wind," she said.
A five-time Grand Slam champion, Williams is into the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the fifth time. Her best finish was in 2002, when she lost the final to sister Serena, who is sidelined by a chronic knee injury.
The reigning Wimbledon champion, Venus is optimistic about her chances on the slower Roland Garros surface.
She made 19 unforced errors in the first set against Schnyder, then a total of 16 over the last two sets. Williams was impressive at the net, using all of her length to reach for a volley winner at 4-2 in the third set. On the next point, Williams ended a 19-stroke exchange with a reflex volley.
"Obviously, I like to play aggressively. It's very effective on the clay," she said. "I can still run a lot of balls down, take some pace off if I have to."
It helps that she's healthy again. After being upset in the first round of the Australian Open in January, Williams was sidelined for 3 1/2 months because of arm injuries, including to her right elbow. Williams returned for the clay season last month, reaching the quarterfinals at Warsaw and semifinals at Rome, where she lost a three-setter to Martina Hingis.
"I've had some decent, really solid results so far this whole clay-court season," said Williams, seeking her first title this year.
"It's really about stepping it up at the right time," she said. "No matter what level I may be playing at, to know that I can take it to the next level, it's really a secure feeling."
Williams has 33 career titles, including three at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open, and she won 2000 Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles.
But injuries have stalled her career at times, including when a stomach muscle pull kept her off the courts from July to November 2003.
"I don't like the stopping and starting," Williams said. "It's not fun. I like doing what I do. Losing bits and pieces out of my career is not ideal, but it happens.
"I'm just looking forward to this year, just staying healthy, really, really getting into the groove." <end>
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=ap-frenchopen-williams&prov=ap&type=lgns