12 Responses

  1. Ummmm
    Ummmm April 6, 2013 at 7:17 pm |

    Haha i think your love for venus might be messing up your math. Pretty sure she has 7 (singles) slams.

  2. Ophelia
    Ophelia April 6, 2013 at 8:36 pm |

    Beautifully typed, Lindsay. I wasn’t watching tennis at that time, but I respect and adore Venus so much. I just wish people would stop talking about how she should retire soon because she isn’t winning Slams anymore; she’s not retiring anytime soon for the same reasons Lleyton Hewitt isn’t retiring anytime soon, and we should be happy she isn’t.

  3. Brenda
    Brenda April 6, 2013 at 9:06 pm |

    That was really well written it actually brought tears to my eyes.

  4. Nicole
    Nicole April 6, 2013 at 9:14 pm |

    I have loved Venus for a long time, and so I definitely related to this article. Again, I love your honesty and the personal touch you add to everything you write. Great one, Lindsay.

  5. Aube
    Aube April 6, 2013 at 9:48 pm |

    “She does not talk down to anyone.”

    I remember exactly in Wimbledon 2008 or 2009 when someone asked her about Dinara Safina while dismissing Safina when she lost to Vee winning just 2 or 3 games in the semi…

    Vee said: are you talking her down? because I do not do that… just to illustrate what you said…

    Well Venus Ebony Starr Williams is one of a kind in the women field and I’m not talking about achievements or trophies but just the capacity of absorbing whatever is going down on court and putting out a decent face about it,inward always with the emotions with the attitude of “it’s not the end of the world” always…always means business,no drama,no excuses…

    It’s so painful now to watch her play yet so remarkable because it takes a lot of courage to put aside her then capacities and deal with reality knowing fully well that what was then is no more…

    I love Venus’ poise and her determination.I usually do not watch her no more when I already have my idea about the opponent because I will collapse,today I watch because there is no difference for me between Serebaby and Vee they’re sisters therefore a win or a loss,all the same to me…

    Thank you again Lindsay,Vee is everything you said and then some…I wish her every happiness and above all EXCELLENT HEALTH…

  6. Patrick of La Verne
    Patrick of La Verne April 6, 2013 at 9:59 pm |

    Brava, Lindsay.

    To me the ineffable Venus moment was her reaction after losing the French Open final to Serena in 2002, a tournament she had not won, and probably never will win. She hadn’t played very well, and probably deep down inside she knew that day, that forever after she would live in the shadow of her even more gloriously talented sister.

    Me, I would have been disconsolate for a month.

    But here is Venus, as happy for her sister as she would have been for herself.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrM_8yvW09I

    What a moment.

    What a sister.

    What a woman…

  7. Jason Kerst
    Jason Kerst April 6, 2013 at 10:56 pm |

    Really appreciated this article. I am going to watch the Venus and Serena documentary this coming weekend, and reading this just got me even more into the mood for it. I’m sure if Venus read this article, she would think “I need to do more. This isn’t enough.” That’s the amazing person that she is, and it will be a sad day for tennis when she leaves, but I think we all know that that won’t be any time soon.

  8. tclairel
    tclairel April 7, 2013 at 6:27 am |

    I was lucky enough to watch Venus play her opening round match at Eastbourne two years ago and loved every second. The people sat to my left commented on my enthusiasm (oops!) and jokingly said they would cheer for Andrea to add some balance. Poor folks then received a very long and detailed reason why no, they really must join me in supporting Venus. This was post Oz open and that awful injury she sustained -I may have over done it but they joined me. They never offered me a glass of their champagne though, probably thought I was already pissed!

  9. Karen
    Karen April 7, 2013 at 10:03 am |

    Oh Linds, stop making me bawl. People talk about Venus’ perseverance by continuing to fight and win tennis matches despite having an auto-immune disease. What is even more remarkable is that during all of this she has maintained 2 successful businesses and is every day getting endorsements for other businesses.

    Long before Federer had his RF logo, Venus had her own interior decorating business. She is, and has always been a savvy business woman. When she came out with her clothing line, a lot of her designs were mocked by tennis fans and non-tennis fans. She was ridiculed for her ideas and to her credit she kept coming back, bigger and better. When Steve & Barry went bust, she never gave up hopes for her own clothing lines. Now a few short years later, she is back and now WTA players are wearing her tennis line. That is perseverance.

    At a time when so many people have to team up with a big conglomerate to make it work, Venus launched her fashion line at New York Fashion Week to rave reviews. And to put the icing on the cake, she has a really hot boyfriend.

    I admit sometimes I don’t want Venus’ legacy to tarnish with these losses, but at the end of the day, I take strength in looking up to one of the strongest women I have ever known. She is beautiful on the inside and out and I for one hopes she continues to play until she is 40

  10. Kristy
    Kristy April 7, 2013 at 10:24 am |

    Fantastic piece, Lindsay. To me, Serena has always been the more compelling personality but you make me appreciate Venus on so many levels, here. And your own fandom is vividly conveyed — it’s interesting and not mawkish, tears and all. Bravo!

  11. Pat frm Philippines
    Pat frm Philippines April 7, 2013 at 4:20 pm |

    I love it Linz. As fellow Vee fans would know it, we cherish Vee’s achievements, adore them, glorify them, but part of it was following Vee’s troubles and disappointments. Whatever happens to Vee, we still love her.

    That 2010 Vee loss against Kimmy, sure was heartbreaking, she had hit all good smashes before that tiebreaker, and then suddenly no one smash went inside the lines. But still we love Vee.

    And her illness, her return to court, gives us more determination and inspires us. Who doesn’t love Vee?

    Lovely piece Linz. Cried a bit too. Remembering Vee does that.

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