Venus Williams is dumped out of Wimbledon in the first round by Ukrainian Elina Svitolina as the injury-plagued American star loses in straight sets
If this is the last time we see Venus Williams on Center Court then it was a fitting tribute to her skill, resilience and warrior spirit.
The 43-year-old five-time champion had struggled through two months of rehabilitation from a hamstring injury to get to the start. So it was indeed cruel to watch her suffer a knee problem last month in Birmingham – and even more cruel to hear the scream of pain in today’s first round as she slipped and fell, clutching that same right knee.
Bumpy as she was, it was a remarkable effort to complete the game and win as many games as she did, eventually going 6-4, 6-3 to Elina Svitolina.
Williams said before the tournament that she would like to continue playing at Wimbledon until she is 50, but this is an almost two-year succession of injuries and there is only so long an athlete can keep going back to the pit – even when deep, like Venus throughout her remarkable career.
The first few games of the match were an even match and Williams moved well. But then came that slip.
Venus Williams reacts during her first round Wimbledon defeat to Elina Svitolina
Williams waves to the crowd on Center Court after being beaten by her Ukrainian opponent
Svitolina raced through it in just over an hour and a half to book her spot in the second round
Her movement was severely hampered and she scored a succession of low volleys, clearly unable to bend her knee enough to reach the ball.
The audience did their best to pull her through. “Heart of a champion Venus,” cried one; “One point at a time, V,” said another.
The strength of her groundstrokes when the ball came within her striking range meant she could keep herself within touch distance.
She even had two break points to make it 5-5 in the first set, but Svitolina won some exciting rallies to win the set 6-4.
The trainer then returned to the court and Williams had her leg tied again, but her movement did not improve and, after another brief fight back at the end of the set, Svitolina closed out the match.
Svitolina waves to the crowd on the first day of Wimbledon after beating the American legend
Attention for Williams now turns to the US Open, which will take place in New York next month
Williams injured her knee just three games into her highly anticipated return to SW19
There was a final display of defiance from Williams after a Hawkeye call was directed at her during the match and the referee decided to award the point to Svitolina. Williams laughed merrily and walked off without shaking referee Maria Cicak’s hand.
Svitolina, who was two years old when Venus made her debut here, is a fellow wildcard and returns to the tour this year after maternity leave.
The former Ukrainian world number 3 has previously said it would be ‘very sad’ if Wimbledon reversed their ban on players from the countries that invaded her homeland, but has more recently said she ‘respects’ the decision .
Nevertheless, it is clear that Svitolina, always a fierce competitor, has even more fire in her gut as she tries to make her war-torn nation proud.