The Hindu : Venus hopes to snatch No. 1 spot from Serena

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 01, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Venus hopes to snatch No. 1 spot from Serena

WARSAW April 30. Venus Williams, switching to the clay courts of Europe to prepare for next month's French Open, hopes to find the right balance between power and patience to wrestle the No. 1 spot from younger sister Serena.

``I think this year I'll be a little better. Last year it was difficult, every time I practised I was tired,'' Williams told reporters on Tuesday before the Warsaw Cup tournament.

``Serena had motivation because she had a couple of years, in 2000 and 2001, when she didn't do really well. (Last year) I became tired and she became motivated so we flip-flopped.''

Venus lost to Serena in the final of three of the season's four Grand Slams. ``Every time I played her, she was just better and I was not ready for all of it. She hits with such power and hits the ball so early that unless you faced it, it's hard to explain,'' Venus said.

Asked what she needed to bring her game to another level, Venus said: ``A combination of power and patience.''

Venus's world ranking has dropped to three behind Belgium's Kim Clijsters largely because of her light schedule. France's Amelie Mauresmo, Slovak Daniela Hantuchova and Yugoslavian Jelena Dokic are also playing in the $700,000 Warsaw Open. ``Now I want to play slow clay courts, enjoy the rhythm,'' Venus said.

She will play one more warm-up in Europe before resting in the United States ahead of Roland Garros.

The hard-hitting American said she was already looking beyond the slow red clay of Warsaw and Paris to playing on the grass of Wimbledon, where she lifted the winner's trophy in 2000 and 2001. — Reuters

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport