Venus Williams was eliminated on Tuesday in the first round of the Libéma Open in Rosmalen. The American tennis icon lost on her debut in the Netherlands to the 25-year-younger Céline Naef from Switzerland.
Naef, who is much higher in the world ranking, won 6-3, 6-7 (3) and 2-6.
The 42-year-old Williams (WTA-696) had one break in the first set to take the lead. Seventeen-year-old Naef (WTA-202) won the second set via a tiebreak, after which she finished the job in the third act.
It was Williams’ first game in more than five months. After her previous match, in Auckland in New Zealand in January, she was struggling with injuries. Her last game on grass was in July last year.
Naef, the youngest participant among the women, will play against Caty McNally (WTA-62) in the next round. The American defeated her compatriot Katie Volynets in straight sets on Tuesday.
Williams started strong against Naef
At her entrance on the center court in Rosmalen, Williams made a lot of noise with the massive crowd. The seven-time Grand Slam singles winner – under the watchful eye of her retired sister Serena – immediately set the tone by coming to 1-0 with a love game.
Naef offered firm resistance and had two break opportunities with a 3-3 score. Williams kept a cool head and still won the game. After that, Williams immediately used the first break opportunity on Naef’s serve.
Ontvang meldingen bij belangrijke ontwikkelingen in het tennis
Williams also took the lead in the second set, but Naef quickly equalized. In the decisive tiebreak, the four-time Olympic champion got the short end of the stick.
Williams and Naef immediately gave away their own game in the third company, but then the Swiss recovered. Williams’ resistance was broken and Naef finished it off at her second match point after two hours and twenty minutes of play.
Williams will now focus on the Birmingham tournament, for which she also received a wild card. The tennis legend especially hopes to score high on Wimbledon, where she took the final victory in the singles five times. The third Grand Slam of the year starts on Monday, July 3.
Indrukwekkende erelijst Venus Williams:
- Enkelspel: 49 WTA-titels, 7 Grand Slam-titels, 1x olympisch goud
- Dubbelspel: 22 WTA-titels, 14 Grand Slam-titels, 3x olympisch goud
2023-06-13 15:39:36
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