Sun not setting on Venus just yet, says father Richard
Sun not setting on Venus just yet, says father Richard
Venus Williams' father will brook no argument - the
five-times Wimbledon champion is doing just fine despite slumping out of
the tournament in the opening round for the first time in 15 years.
At 32, the graceful American is fighting her way back
to fitness after being diagnosed with the autoimmune, fatigue-inducing
illness Sjogren's Syndrome but looked flat on Monday when she was beaten
6-1 6-3 by Russia's Elena Vesnina.
Gone was the air of invincibility that was so evident
in the last decade, when she and sister Serena dominated women's tennis
.
But their father, Richard, bridled at any suggestion it
was time to start writing tennis obituaries for the powerful player who
has won seven grand slam titles.
"Venus will be alright and Jehovah, that's the god we
serve, will take care of Venus. I think she is coming along great. She
just has to have time to make things work out," he told Reuters as he
looked out from the media balcony at the sun-kissed courts where his
offspring have rewritten tennis history.
His loyalties have never been divided and when the two
met in four Wimbledon finals, he would make a point of flying home early
so he did not have to watch the match. He did not want to know the
result until he touched down back in the United States.
His constant mantra is: "There is life beyond the baseline."
Carefully nurturing his daughters through their
careers, he has always sought to avoid the burnout that has struck down
so many players and has always wanted them to have a life outside the
lucrative but claustrophobic world of globe-trotting tennis.
"Venus and Serena have great business sense. They have
made a ton of money. They serve God, they are very obedient, they listen
to me and their mum. They will be alright. They went to college, they
have education," he said.
"I always made sure that their education was much better than their tennis."
Venus will return to Wimbledon next month with her
sister, where she hopes the pair will successfully defend their doubles
title at the London Olympics.
"I am tough, let me tell you, tough as nails," she told reporters after her disappointing loss on Monday.
Venus, who returned to the tour in March after seven
months out with her illness, added: "I have great tennis in me, I just
need the opportunity."
Her father is also convinced there is plenty left in
the tank, even if the evidence from the court has not been that
positive.
"I don't see why she should retire. She has the biggest serve on this planet," he added.
"She runs faster than anyone else, she has a great
forehand, a great backhand. I don't know a player who has as much speed
as her. In this sport, speed is money."
