|
|
| |
| ||
| ||
|
|
 'I'm just going to get stronger' Venus unleashes 125-mph serve as Williams sisters flex muscles
Posted: Thursday June 25, 1998 06:50 PM
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Centre Court at Wimbledon was introduced Thursday to the astonishing physique of Serena Williams, who wore a sleeveless dress that revealed rippling shoulder muscles visible from the top row. On Court 1, Venus Williams also flexed her muscles, slamming a serve at 125 mph -- the fastest ever recorded in women's tennis. Even Serena was impressed when informed of her older sister's achievement. "Jeepers. Wow. No," Serena said. "I'm behind. I don't know if I can catch up with that. She's much bigger than I am. She's taller and she might have more power." She might. The issue could be settled soon, because the sisters are one victory apiece away from a fourth-round meeting next week. Each easily beat a top-50 player in the second round Thursday. Serena won a battle of 16-year-olds, sweeping the final nine games to eliminate Mirjana Lucic 6-3, 6-0. Venus beat Barbara Schett 6-1, 6-2. Serena next plays Virginia Ruano-Pascual, while Venus faces Chanda Rubin or Tara Snyder. Their second-round match was suspended with the scores tied 6-3, 5-7, 7-7. Venus has won the two previous showdowns between the sisters, but she's wary about a rematch. "Serena is definitely a juggernaut," Venus said. And how do you stop a juggernaut? "Just become a bigger one yourself," Venus said. "I guess you have to become a nemesis."
Venus will be a nemesis for anyone in her path if she keeps smashing 125-mph serves. She learned of the achievement after her match from Serena, who was told about it by the media. "I wasn't going for any big ones today," Venus said, "so that was a surprise." The serve, an ace in the third game of the second set, broke the previous record of 123 mph by Brenda Schultz-McCarthy at Wimbledon last year. Williams' previous best was 122 mph at the Lipton Championships this year. Serena's best is 112 mph. The fastest serve in men's history was 143 mph by Greg Rusedski at last year's U.S. Open. Venus anticipates that her speed will continue to improve. "I've just turned 18, so I'm just going to get stronger," the 6-foot-1 1/2 Williams said. "I would imagine that my peak would be at 22 or 23. In the last year, I gained 9 mph on my serve." Against Schett, Venus also showed foot speed and finesse. She won one point with a deft forehand drop shot, then won the next with an ace. On match point, Williams hit a lunging backhand, then raced to the other sideline and ripped a running forehand winner down the line. The only shot missing from her repertoire was the volley. She remains hesitant about coming to the net. "You can't expect a person to throw away their old coat, especially when it's their favorite," she said. The reluctance to serve and volley could be costly against her sister, who seems eager to charge forward in only her second tournament on grass. "When I first was hitting on it, I didn't like it," Serena said. "Now I love it. Grass helps my game on other surfaces, because usually I don't attack. It will help me come to the net more." That's a scary prospect. Serena, who looks like a body builder, is joining her sister as a powerful force in women's tennis.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
