At 43 years old, Venus Williams scored a very surprising upset. She made the last 16 of the US Open doubles, a round she has not progressed past since the 2018 French Open. Leylah Fernandez recently teamed up with the tennis legend, and together they’re mesmerizing fans like never before. Together, their fiery interpretations push boundaries and reveal the eternal skill and artistry of a true master.
This past July, Williams made her return to competitive play after a 16-month hiatus. In doing so, she became the oldest singles player to participate at the US Open since 1981. Her resurgence on the court has impressed many, including two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka, who expressed admiration for Williams’s enduring presence in the sport.
“It’s incredible to still see Venus on the court,” – Naomi Osaka
Williams had been playing some of her best tennis in years throughout this tournament. In their opening round match, Zhu and Fernandez scored an upset against the No. 6 seeded team of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez. They capped a spectacular week with a convincing title victory over Ulrikke Eikeri & Eri Hozumi. 7-6, 6-1 in the 2nd round.
The duo was met with an early test in their second game of the day. After trailing 3-1 and being on the end of a lucky bounce in the opening frame. That is where Williams’s experience really made a difference. She closed out two huge break points on huge volley winners, firing her team back into the lead.
In the second set, Williams and Fernandez blitzkrieged their opposition, winning seven of the eight games played against Eikeri and Hozumi. Fans tuned in as Williams made headlines with her signature celebrations. She waved to the fans, pumping up the crowd and demonstrating her passion for the game.
Fernandez praised Williams’s influence on her game, stating, “You have motivated me to keep going on this journey through the good and the bad so seeing you play out here, having fun, playing because you love the sport, it’s motivating, it’s inspirational.”
Williams’s performance now is still a tribute to that talent and commitment. As she advances further in the tournament alongside Fernandez, tennis enthusiasts eagerly await more moments of brilliance from this legendary athlete.
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