Venus Williams says she was ‘killed by grass’ after Wimbledon defeat
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Venus Williams playing Elina Svitolina in their first-round match at Wimbledon.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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LONDON – Venus Williams said she was “killed by the grass” after the five-time champion suffered a nasty tumble during her 6-4, 6-3 defeat by Elina Svitolina in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday.
The American started strongly against her Ukrainian opponent, who reached the semi-finals in 2019, winning the first two games.
But the 43-year-old slipped on the Centre Court grass and fell to the ground in agony, clutching her strapped right knee as Svitolina pulled the score back to 2-1.
She limped back to her chair and the trainer was called but she was able to continue.
Williams came out aggressively, seeking to fire off winners, but was broken again in the fifth game and fellow wildcard Svitolina went on to take the opening set 6-4.
The American had a mountain to climb after she was broken in the first game of the second set and former world No. 3 Svitolina repeated the feat for a 4-1 lead.
The 28-year-old, who gave birth to a girl in October and is ranked 76th, served for the match in the eighth game but Williams, battling hard, broke back to make the score 5-3.
However, she failed to build on her momentum as Svitolina broke again, wrapping up the set 6-3, with the match decided on a video referral.
Williams was given a standing ovation as she walked off Centre Court, turning and waving to the crowd.
The American, who said she did not know the extent of her injury, was sanguine after her defeat.
“Grass is inherently going to be slippery,” she said. “You’re going to fall at some point. It was just bad luck for me.
“I started the match perfectly. I was literally killing it, then I got killed by the grass.
“It’s not fun right now. I felt like I was in great form coming into this tournament, and great form in the match. It’s all very shocking at the moment. This is sports.”
The American, who made her Wimbledon debut in 1997, was playing at the All England Club for the 24th time – the most appearances for any player in the Open era.
In other action, Coco Gauff vowed to channel the frustration she felt after losing to Sofia Kenin on Monday into improving her game as she continues her quest for a Grand Slam breakthrough.
The resurgent Kenin, who won the 2020 Australian Open but had to come through qualifying to face the seventh-seeded Gauff, was the more confident of the pair of Americans.
She dictated play and pushed the teenager around the court at the All England Club.
“Right now I’m very frustrated and disappointed,” Gauff said after losing 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, her first opening-round defeat at the grass-court Major.
“So, yeah, I think it makes me want to work even harder. I feel like I have been working hard, but clearly it’s not enough.
“I have to go back to the drawing board and see where I need to improve and how to do the right drills to do that.” AFP, REUTERS
