Wimbledon, England – A year ago, Week 2 of Wimbledon began without a Williams in sight. Venus Williams was gone after a third-round upset. Serena Williams never showed up, part of a six-month stretch during which she was injured and fell out of the Top 100.
Winners of five of the past seven titles at the All England Club, the siblings both are scheduled to be on court today, when play resumes after a rainy first week and the traditional middle Sunday off.
Each has a singles match, and they’re also slated to play doubles together today.
“You know what? I’m playing really well. I’m feeling really good. I’m feeling really positive,” the No. 7-seeded Serena said. “I’m feeling like I’m going to get there.”
She is due to face No. 10 Daniela Hantuchova in the fourth round today, with a possible quarterfinal against No. 1 Justine Henin looming.
Venus has some catching up to do: Her third-round match against 71st-ranked Akiko Morigami of Japan was suspended by rain Saturday, with the American trailing 4-1 in the second set after winning the first.
If Venus – who won the grass-court Grand Slam tournament in 2000, 2001 and 2005 – can get past Morigami, a fourth-round matchup against 2004 champion Maria Sharapova would await.
Serena was ready to look ahead even before her older sister earned a place in that showdown.
“Venus has the game to beat Maria, especially on grass,” said Serena, who defeated Venus in the 2002 and 2003 Wimbledon finals. “Venus has a great serve. I mean, she runs like the wind. She’s so tall. She’s playing well. She definitely has the game to beat her.
“With that being said, she just has to go out there and do it. And she can do it.”
