Wimbledon, England – After watching Venus Williams on Wimbledon’s hallowed Centre Court on Thursday, the surprise was not that she again finds herself in the final of a Grand Slam, but that so many people had written her off.
Williams showed that whatever may have been missing from her game the past two years was hanging around somewhere. And Thursday, she found it.
She outserved, outvolleyed, outstretched and even outgrunted defending champion Maria Sharapova, earning a rain-delayed, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 semifinal victory.
If Williams has been suffering from a lack of competitive desire – as others have guessed but she has denied – it wasn’t evident. When she captured the final point, she jumped high enough – fists clenched and arms raised – that it seemed possible she would punch the lingering rain clouds that had delayed the start of the match by four hours.
“I love this tournament,” Williams said. “This is definitely the surface for me.”
She will go for her third Wimbledon title Saturday against fellow American Lindsay Davenport or France’s Amelie Mauresmo, whose match was suspended by rain with Davenport serving for the victory. She will take the court today leading 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4), 5-3, love-15.
Sharapova, the No. 2 seed and the favorite of bookmakers to win the championship, played well throughout the match, which was closer than the final score might indicate.
But Williams was nearly flawless, hitting huge and accurate first serves in the first set. And when she had to rely more on her second serve in set No. 2, her reach in the ensuing rallies was like that of an albatross; she looked prepared to fly into the Wimbledon grandstand as she chased down winners.
She played with the form that made her a four-time Grand Slam winner, including twice here – in 2000 and 2001.
She also has been a two-time tournament runner-up, but it has been nearly four years since her most recent Grand Slam championship, and, at 25 years old, few expected much from her this time.
She had progressed through the tournament almost unnoticed, playing mostly on the smaller courts, as opposed to the Centre Court stage she commanded in so many matches in past years.
She lost to her sister, Serena, in the Wimbledon final in 2003, barely able to move because of a stomach injury. And since her return to play after taking six months to recover from that injury, she had been a shadow – though a large one – of her former self.
Sharapova’s gold-adorned shoes probably got more ink during the tournament than Williams’ play did on the way to Thursday’s match.
“My game has been improving step by step,” Williams said. “There were times when I was disappointed in how I played because I knew I could play better. But all in good time.
“Everyone has their moment in the sun. That’s what my mom always says. Everyone gets to win sometimes. Even though I would like it to be me every time, it’s almost impossible.”
Sharapova, who had not lost a set during the tournament, seemed stunned by the ferocity of Williams, who could be seen gritting her teeth throughout the match – until her smile went net-wide when she won.
Williams went to 5-0 in Wimbledon semifinals and has yet to lose a set this year.
“It was either me not playing the best I can or her playing too good,” Sharapova said. “I think she played one of the best matches of her life – that I’ve seen, anyway.”