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Women’s tennis was all about charm and elegance, as was portrayed by champions such as Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles and Justine Henin, to name a few. However, the game went through a transformation with the advent of the Williams sisters.
Serena and Venus Williams burst onto the scene in the mid 90s and elevated women’s tennis to a whole new level with a never-seen-before display of strength, intensity and power, coupled with grace and attitude. Besides their immensely dominant game, they also brought a sense of style, evident from how they continue to experiment with their attire and tresses on court.
Therefore, in many ways, they have set the standards and many have followed. They are true champions, of a different breed and have enthralled spectators and fans all around the world for several years.
In sport, injury is any athlete’s worst enemy and it is quite amazing how damaging and influential it can be. The Williams sisters suffered at the hands of injury and had to stay out of the game for an extended period. And like always, when they were ready to hit the circuit, they were the centre of constant media attention, quite rightly so.
However, their loss at Wimbledon 2011 at an early stage of the tournament has sparked widespread speculation about the end of their dominance. So, are we reading too much into the twin capitulation of the sisters at Wimbledon? Or is it just a blip?
To be fair, they have just returned to top level tennis after extended injury layoffs and no matter how good a player you are, you need to attain match-fitness before being able to pose a serious challenge. Now, there is a huge difference between being fit and being match-fit. And, this is where the sisters were found wanting.
They were just not match-fit and did not play enough matches leading up to the slam and therefore, it was always going to be demanding for them to reach the finals, let alone winning the tournament.
Their loss does not indicate in any way that they are past their prime. A few months of tennis on the circuit would condition and help them find their rhythm back and if they can manage to do that, they will go into the US open with their spirits up and like always, be the women to beat.
Since they are under close scrutiny at this point, if they can focus on their game in its entirety and not so much on fashion, there is no reason why they cannot catapult themselves to the level they were at prior to injury.
Yes, they might be in their early 30s, an age when people begin to question your desire and determination to continue in sport, but, they are champions, and like they say, ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’.
The Williams sisters are not finished and are certain to rise again and prove their detractors wrong.
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