In related tennis health news, the U. The move is particularly significant since defending champion Naomi Osaka has been the focus of mental health issues for players since the French Open. She later withdrew from Wimbledon. A post shared by Venus Williams venuswilliams. A post shared by Serena Williams serenawilliams. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. All Rights reserved. The tournament's medical staff was called and she fought back tears as they examined the injury and gave her the treatment options.
Already dealing with a nagging left knee injury heading into the Slam, medical staff taped up the ankle and reinforced tape she already had on her left knee during back-to-back medical timeouts lasting over 15 minutes.
Back in the second round at a major for the first time since , she was determined to continue playing. Venus struggled to put weight on her right leg as she made her way back onto the court, limping to the baseline. Errani quickly closed out the game for the set. As Williams made her way to her chair yet again, commentators on the world broadcast feed said there was no way Williams would be able to play another set and her retirement from the match would be imminent.
Williams sat down, briefly put her head in her hands, and then stood up and started practicing her service motion. Playing in her th career match at a major, she had retired from a match just once, at the Australian Open. She wasn't going to let it happen again. For the next 31 minutes, the year-old limped across the court, nursing her ankle with every step, but never losing any of her trademark intensity. Venus was unable to push off for her serves, so they were weakened as she remained flat on the ground.
She struggled to get to the ball, but kept fighting, even staving off two match points in the final moments. Williams lost the match, , , but managed to provide the most inspirational moment of the tournament thus far, enamoring viewers around the world with her perseverance and grit -- a hundred million percent effort. There is no shortage of inspiring moments in sports, but Williams added another to the list.
Some competitors had more on the line than Venus on Wednesday, like Tiger Woods playing through a torn ACL and double stress fracture en route to a US Open victory, or Kerri Strug battling through an ankle injury to clinch a gold medal in vault at the Olympics. Others have had tough obstacles to overcome, like Alex Smith rebounding from a gruesome, near-deadly leg injury to become the Washington Football Team's starting quarterback this season.
On Wednesday, Williams showed yet again why she is one of tennis' greatest competitors and most committed players. It is something she has done many times during her career. Instead, she made sweeping changes to her diet and dedicated herself even more to health and wellness. She has not won a Grand Slam Singles tournament since the Australian Open and hasn't won a doubles tournament since Wimbledon.
She trails only her sister for the most singles titles 49 WTA wins and the most overall titles Venus Williams has won seven of those singles titles in Grand Slam Tournaments.
Venus Williams at least seems to be taking her withdrawal with humor. In the video she said she'd use her newfound free time on her social life, adding she has since changed her mind since she was "undateable at Wimbledon. Smart, but not smarter than me. Has a job and doesn't talk too much.
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