19 June 2023 , 20:33
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Tennis legend Venus Williams secured her first win over a top 50 opponent in four years on Monday, as she beat Camila Giorgi in the first round of the Rothesay Classic.
The 43-year-old returned to action last week after being sideined with a hamstring injury, and Williams could be plotting an unlikely Wimbledon comeback. Williams lost her first game back to 17-year-old Celine Naef in the first round at S-Hertogenbosch last week, but recorded a shock win over Giorgio in a three-set thriller.
Williams wanted to play at the Australian Open earlier this year, but had to delay her return until June. Due to currently being ranked No. 697 the six-time Wimbledon champion will have to secure a wildcard, but Williams could make an unexpected appearance when the competition starts on July 3.
The American had a wildcard for the Australian Open, but returned it to offer someone else a chance after admitting her injury would be too severe. "That’s the point when I withdrew from the Australian Open," said Williams back in February.
"I had a wildcard and it was so awesome, but it wasn’t for me and I wanted someone else to have that opportunity because I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to play. I knew that it was going to be a bad injury."
Novak Djokovic won Australian Open despite playing with major hamstring tear
Williams suffered another injury scare during her win against Giorgi, as she took a medical timeout to get her right knee strapped up while leading 3-2 in the first set. But Williams battled on and managed to come out victorious after 3 hours and 17 minutes.
"I got off to a great start, and my leg started hurting in the third game," Williams explained after her win. "I was like, 'Oh no, not this.' It was really hard to control my emotions, to be honest. Eventually I just acclimated to what I was going through and tried to ignore it. I couldn't move as well as I wanted, but I tried to get to every ball that I could."
But Williams proved that she's still very much capable, and her return shows a clear intention to play another tournament at Wimbledon. Williams made her debut at Wimbledon back in 1997, and won her first title in 2000 aged just 20.
The Williams sisters are some of the most successful women's athletes in Wimbledon history, with Serena tied second for all-time wins with seven, and Venus is third with five. Serena appeared at Wimbledon last year after winning the women's doubles at Eastbourne the week before, but now it could be Venus' turn to grace the famous competition once more.
First, Venus will face either No.2 seed Jelena Ostapenko or 18-year-old Linda Noskova in the second round at the Rothesay Classic. The last time Williams won consecutive matches was her run to the 2019 Cincinnati quarterfinals.