Wimbledon Tidbits 2008: Venus Soars!
Image details: The Championships - Wimbledon 2008 Day Twelve served by picapp.com
Venus Williams trounced little sis Serena Williams to win her fifth Wimbledon title today. The score was 7-5 6-4.
When asked about the historic significance of becoming only one of four women---Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf being the other three---to win five or more Wimbledon singles titles, Venus said this in her post match interview:
I think definitely winning this tournament so many times definitely puts you in the stratosphere, to be honest, just because of what this tournament means. I think had I had this achievement at any other tournament it would have been awesome, but not nearly the same meaning at Wimbledon. I think the difference is just because of the prestige of this event.
Serena obviously took the loss hard, but got some satisfaction when she and big sis teamed up to win the doubles final just a few hours later 6-2, 6-2. They defeated Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur to win their third Wimbledon doubles title and their seventh Grand Slam doubles title overall.
Image details: The Championships - Wimbledon 2008 Day Twelve served by picapp.com
Can I just say once again how much I admire Venus and Serena Williams? They're smart, talented, classy, confident, bold and brash young women. And as young black women in the very white world of professional tennis they've had to deal with many more challenges than your average player, but they've handled those challenges with an amazing amount of grace.
Hooray for the Williams sisters and especially to Venus for today writing another wonderful chapter in the book of tennis history.
