Venus Williams Insists “Am Not Done Yet”

At 37, she could have been the oldest Wimbledon women’s champion since 1994, but the younger Spaniard, Garbine Muguruza at 23 proved swifter. Twice, it appeared Venus would achieve her dream as she was a point from taking the opening set, but she crumbled by dropping the last nine games and losing 7-5, 6-0.

Had Venus succeeded, it would have been her sixth title at Wimbledon. But Muguruza deserved her place in history as she won her first Wimbledon title. Despite losing, Venus Williams is undeterred as she tried to hide her emotions. She remarked that she would keep trying as she eyes another Wimbledon championship, possibly next year.

It is believed the she may have fallen victim to the energy-sapping autoimmune disease, she wants to keep pressing on. ”This is where you want to be. I like to win. I don’t want to just get to a final,” said Williams. ”It’s just about playing a little better.”

The story could have been a different one had she held on to an initial 5-4 lead in the first set while Muguruza was serving at 15-40. Poor Venus! She netted a forehand to close a 20-stroke exchange on the first set point. And on the second, she sent a return long. Muguruza would go on to win that game – and the next eight, too, to earn her third Grand Slam trophy.

Venus Williams’ coach, David Witt, offered one explanation for the way everything came undone for her against Muguruza. ”It was just nerves,” Witt said.

”She never, I thought, looked like she was relaxed out there,” he added. Venus Williams arrived in England a few weeks after being involved in a two-car accident in Florida. Two weeks after the crash, a 78-year-old passenger in the other vehicle died.

At a news conference following her first-round victory at Wimbledon, Williams was asked about the episode, and she tried to respond, before wiping away tears and briefly leaving the room to compose herself.