Expectations were so high for Venus Williams that the seven-time grand slam champion choked in her U.S. Open semi-final against fellow American Sloane Stephens on Thursday, according to former world number one Mats Wilander.
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Expectations were so high for Venus Williams that the seven-time grand slam champion choked in her U.S. Open semi-final against fellow American Sloane Stephens on Thursday, according to former world number one Mats Wilander.
The 37-year-old Williams reached two major finals this season but Stephens denied her a third in a 6-1 0-6 7-5 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
&ldquo-Venus looked a little bit nervous, she looked a little bit nervous in the Wimbledon final too, which is understandable at 37 years old because you&rsquo-re not going to have many more chances,&rdquo- Wilander, in Flushing Meadows as an analyst for Eurosport, said in his daily chat with Reuters.
The Swede said Stephens&rsquo-s playing style had everything to bother the ninth seed, who grew more frustrated as the match went on.
&ldquo-The match-up is bad for her because Stephens gets everything back in play, she&rsquo-s so fast and shots that usually are winners for her, she has to hit again and hit again and it&rsquo-s not really Venus&rsquo-s strength,&rdquo- said Wilander.
&ldquo-She likes to hit a couple or three shots and then the rally is over.&rdquo-
That was rarely the case against Stephens, whose defense eventually made the difference, with Williams missing several volleys.
&ldquo-Today she was forced to come to the net and you can tell she&rsquo-s not that natural to come and finish off points but it was a great effort to come back after losing the first set,&rdquo- Wilander said.
If Williams had won, it would have been the first time since 2002 that she had played in three grand slam finals in a year, but Wilander said it was obvious her passion for the game was still at sky-high levels.
&ldquo-She was in three finals in 2002, she could have done it 15 years later. Her passion for tennis is just through the roof. It&rsquo-s Roger Federer level,&rdquo- said Wilander.
&ldquo-She should have won the match but she&rsquo-s had so much success in her career and when you keep pushing the envelope and keep playing, things turn around and you&rsquo-re not going to have the same success at some point.&rdquo-
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