For a memorable Monday night set in front of a sold-out crowd at the Citi Open, venus williams he seemed to have rediscovered his old domain.
Battling the Persistent Heat and Humidity of the Washington, DC Night, and the Canadian Qualifier navy cardigan through the net, Williams chased every ball and gave a clinic with his power and determination. It was hard to believe that this was his first competitive singles match in almost a year.
MAGNIFICENT 🔥
🇺🇸 @Venuswilliams beats Marino for the first set, 6-4!#CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/29ZhjA7Ufq
— wta (@WTA) August 2, 2022
And then reality, and Williams’ 42 years, suddenly seemed to catch up with her. She was fatigued and lazy in the second set, and she had few answers for Marino’s strong serve. Williams also struggled in her own service games, recording three consecutive double faults late in the set.
But Williams’ trademark tenacity remains intact, and he dug deep and found another level early in the decider. He took a commanding 4-1 lead and victory seemed almost certain.
It was not so. Marino, the World No. 111, came back, winning the next five games and finally the match 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
The fairy tale of Williams’ comeback was over before it had really begun.
“I don’t think I played well many times,” Williams said after the game. “I’m just trying to get some rust off. That’s to be expected. All I can do is play another tournament and play better.”
A victory on Monday, and perhaps an even more substantial streak this week, would have been the ultimate legendary moment in a career filled with them. The seven-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 hadn’t played a singles match since the Chicago Women’s Open in August 2021, when she lost in the first round in straight sets to Su Wei Hsieh.
Currently unranked due to his recent lack of activity, Williams was given a wild card to play at the Citi Open. She had said that playing in the tournament was a “homecoming”. in a sentenceas he had played for the Washington World TeamTennis team for nine seasons.
It would have been the perfect place to start his latest comeback triumphantly.
His prolonged absence from the competition, in addition to his lackluster results in recent years (Williams has won just four matches since the start of 2020) sparked rampant retirement rumors earlier this season. But Williams surprised fans with his return to the court in mixed doubles at Wimbledon earlier this summer by teaming up with jamie murray. The duo, who were immediate fan favorites on the grounds of the All England Club, reached the round of 16 before falling to Alicia Barnett and Jonny O’Mara in an epic clash that ended in an 18-16 playoff at the deciding set. .
Williams did not intend to play at Wimbledon when she arrived in London, but said she was inspired by her sister. sereneThe return of “saw the grass” and “got excited”. She and Murray received a late entry as a wild card to play in the event. Perhaps rejuvenated by her time in that tournament, Williams later received the wild card to play singles in Washington, as well as the upcoming 1000-level tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati. Williams will need a wild card to compete at the US Open, which starts on August 29, but she is expected to receive one for the final major of the year.
Williams will have two more opportunities to prepare for New York in the coming weeks, and there were certainly aspects of his play in Monday’s game against Marino that he can feel good about as he heads north of the border.
The future beyond New York remains much murkier. Williams has given few hints about her plans in the sport and has been remarkably quiet when it comes to questions about her status on tour. She is likely to continue speculation about her inevitable retirement, especially if she fails to record a victory in any of the events leading up to the US Open.
Still, as flashes showed on Monday, it may not be over yet. Williams has spoken at length about his love of the game and competition, citing that as his main motivation for moving forward at this stage. As evidenced by the adoring crowd in the nation’s capital, tennis will be happy to have her for however long.