Not only the organization of the Libéma Open is preparing for the tennis tournament that will start on Saturday in Rosmalen. Eye-catcher Venus Williams is also ready. While she is turning down many media appearances, our reporter happened to bump into her this morning. It’s like Wimbledon here, isn’t it? “It’s very, very close.”
Relaxed and confident. This is what the living tennis legend Venus Williams looks like on Thursday morning when our reporter accidentally bumps into her along the tennis courts in Rosmalen.
With an honors list to lick your fingers off, the American is the star of the tournament. She won Wimbledon five times. She won the US Open twice and is also a four-time Olympic champion. It is therefore not surprising that a lot of attention is paid to Williams. She declined invitations from talk shows such as Op1 and Jinek. But for our reporter, the 42-year-old tennis player does make some time.
“I’m here to show the public fun and good tennis.”
“No one is happier to be here than I am,” says Williams. “But of course I’m not just here to be happy. I’m here to show the public fun and good tennis. And myself of course.”
The fact that the Libéma Open managed to bring Venus Williams to Rosmalen is a major stunt. And it has not gone unnoticed by the public. Many enthusiasts hope to catch a glimpse of her hair next week.
But how special does Williams actually think it is that she is on Brabant soil? “It’s my first time here. And first times are always special!”
Williams has long been one of the women to beat. But due to injuries, she has not played since January. She is now number 701 in the world rankings. She is allowed to participate in the Libéma Open, because she received a so-called wildcard from the organization.
“This morning I got my feet dirty on the grass and the courts are great.”
Whether Williams can break pots here? If we can believe her, it certainly won’t be the grass. This morning she trained on it for the first time.
“This morning I got my feet dirty on the grass and the courts are great. It’s the first time I’ve played on grass in a year,” she says. “I would like to win here. Like many others. I have to earn it.”
According to experts, Williams could still go a long way, as she showed her best game of her career on fast grass courts. Her five Grand Slam titles in the grass tournament Wimbledon prove that.
Speaking of which, Rosmalen’s entourage is like the hallowed grass of Wimbledon, isn’t it? Williams, laughing: “It’s very, very close.”
The Libéma Open lasts from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 June.
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