WIMBLEDON, England — As Venus Williams entered Centre Court for her 24th Wimbledon appearance at age 43, greeted by a standing ovation, she held a green exercise band overhead with both hands and stretched it while striding to her sideline seat. Once her first-round match against Elina Svitolina began, Williams played like a throwback version of herself. Svitolina was only 2 when Williams made her Wimbledon debut in 1997 and just 5 when Williams won the event for the first time in 2000. "It's always a pleasure to play against Venus," Svitolina said, calling her opponent a "big legend." Williams' total in that category included eight double-faults.

Source: Daily Sun July 04, 2023 11:25 UTC