THE SCOOP, WIMBLEDON DAY 14

Is making history important for Venus?

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Fred Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Despite Venus Williams’s constant declarations that making a mark in tennis history is unimportant to her, the 21-year-old American seems to be single-handedly creating a Williams dynasty at Wimbledon.

In a match delayed until Sunday because of inclement weather in London on Saturday, Williams defended her Wimbledon crown with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 victory over Justine Henin of Belgium. The win makes Williams the first player since Steffi Graf in 1996 to successfully defend at Wimbledon – there’s just a bit of tennis history earned by Williams, like it or not Venus.

It’s a wonder as to what is behind all this fanfare about not caring to steal a piece of tennis history.

Truthfully, while what Venus says can often be entertaining and interesting, there is much of her banter that can often be dismissed. Are these comments of stressing how unimportant it is to be important in the game just something that sounds different to say?

Deep down, does Venus really care what her legacy will be when she puts down her racket and moves onto the “I have a retirement plan, too” that she mentioned on Centre Court after the win?

Credence to the theory that she might care a bit more than she admits was provided on Sunday when she commented about her father’s taking snapshots with a long lens camera from the friends box all fortnight long. Williams told former British player Sue Barker during the on court ceremony that it was important for dad to take the pictures because “it would be a shame not to have memories and if you have nothing to look back on.”

Or here is another scenario that might be close to accurate as to why history is not a priority – maybe creating the great Williams dynasty in tennis isn’t what Venus envisions as her destiny since was really her father Richard’s dream. Venus has admitted to bouts of boredom, laziness and disinterest in tennis, although she was quick to admit that defending at Wimbledon was a challenge she found “addictive.”

SHWONG MORE RESERVE
Interest or disinterest aside, there is one positive change with Venus in recent times – she’s toned down that I’m the greatest in the world act and now knows how to behave in a more professional and courteous manner. This opinion isn’t based on the fact that her on court celebration was clearly less exuberant than last year when she won her first Grand Slam trophy at Wimbledon – on that occasion she jumped around the court all over the place. This year, she smiled broadly, twirled around a bit on the ground and just waved her hand to the crowd, perfectly understandable since this was a third Grand Slam title and not a first.
What made her different was the compliment she paid to Henin, who played the final match unaware that her grandfather had died earlier that morning. Henin deserved the kudos Williams bestowed on her, but in the past a younger, less mature Williams would have just been boasting about her own performance.
“I’ve been in this position before,” Williams told Henin of playing a first Grand Slam final. “My first final I didn’t even win a set. She’s a great player and she’s going to be back.”

For Henin, it was an uphill battle from the outset – she had no experience in a Grand Slam final and Williams possesses a bigger game. But the nearly 5'-6" Henin has spunk, determination, an all-court style and a major weapon in her one-handed backhand slice that can dice and slice opponents’ games apart.
Williams raced through the first set as Henin tried to calm herself down and get into the match. What really saved things for Henin, at least for a while, was a brief rain delay with the match on serve at 3-2 for the Belgian in the second set. That brief delay allowed Henin to consult with her coach and hear the important words – stick to the backhand slice. Three games after they returned to the court, Henin capitalized on her one break point of the day at 15-40 in the eight game when Williams netted an unforced backhand she was attempting to rip past the Belgian.
That was truly Henin’s last stand. She held serve in the next game to take the first set and then lost the final six games in quick succession.

DOING WELL WITH LITTLE
While Henin is a fighter, trying to conquer the power of Williams, not to mention attempting to conquer the big serve of a 6'-2" inch opponent, proved to be a daunting task. Although Williams can often come up with some inexplicably lame shot making, she didn’t falter in the final set which left Henin without any opportunities.

“She was a great champion, a tough player who played better than me,” Henin said. “I had my chances but she was mentally stronger and she had experiences of a final in a Grand Slam.”

What Henin can take away from this Wimbledon fortnight is the knowledge that she has improved greatly in just a one-year time frame. The 19-year-old was ranked No. 100 in the world last year and lost in the first round; this year she leaves Wimbledon as a finalist with an impressive No. 5 world ranking, a possibility she said she “couldn’t imagine” happening last year.

For Williams, she heads over to the Wimbledon ball to celebrate, although her first dance will be standing her up. Tradition dictates that the women’s champion and men’s champion dance the first dance, but with the men’s final between Pat Rafter and Goran Ivanisevic held over to Monday, she will be without a partner. What Williams won’t be without is the knowledge that at least for the foreseeable future, if she arrives at Wimbledon with the title quest a major priority, it will certainly be hard for any opponent to stand in the way of a Williams dynasty continuing at the All England Club.