RAA
May 3rd, 2002, 03:01 PM
Article posted on ESPN.com...
does anyone know how Venus hurt her ankle and how bad it is??
Williams struggles, but advances in Hamburg
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Reuters
HAMBURG, Germany -- Defending champion Venus Williams struggled to overcome both Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and an ankle injury as she earned a semifinal meeting with Martina Hingis in the Hamburg Cup.
The world No. 1 came through 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, but it was not until midway through the final set that she began to take control.
Up until that stage, the eighth seeded Spaniard had done her best to exploit Williams's lack of mobility, but a number of unforced errors and the American's greater aggression in the final stages prevented an upset.
Williams began by dropping her serve to love in the opening game, and after going down a second break to trail 4-1 she called for attention to her strapped left ankle.
Further strapping was applied at 5-2, and Williams began to look a little more positive, but Sanchez-Vicario continued to be a threat, often coming into the net and volleying winners as a tentative Williams remained on the baseline.
But the match began to turn in the top seed's favour from 3-3 in the second set, as Williams broke to love and also served out the set to love.
In the third set, Williams moved more smoothly and met the ball more positively to sweep the deciding set with some ease.
Earlier, Hingis avenged her recent defeat by Daniela Hantuchova in the final of the Indian Wells tournament by beating the sixth seeded Slovak 7-5, 6-4.
Yet, it was Hantuchova who dictated much of the play, often beating Hingis with a well-struck forehand. She forced a number of errors with her deep groundstrokes, or by stretching Hingis wide, but she also overhit the ball often enough to keep the Swiss number three seed in contention.
Although Hingis snatched an early break to lead 2-1, Hantuchova levelled at 3-3 and then earned a set point at 5-4. But Hingis escaped when the Slovak netted a backhand, and then broke to lead 6-5 and served out to love for the set.
In the second set, Hingis took a 2-1 lead on her fifth break point, and although she failed to convert another six break points for a 4-1 lead and allowed Hantuchova to level at 4-4, the 2000 champion responded by forcing a backhand error to break again for 5-4, and then safely served out for victory.
does anyone know how Venus hurt her ankle and how bad it is??
Williams struggles, but advances in Hamburg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reuters
HAMBURG, Germany -- Defending champion Venus Williams struggled to overcome both Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and an ankle injury as she earned a semifinal meeting with Martina Hingis in the Hamburg Cup.
The world No. 1 came through 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, but it was not until midway through the final set that she began to take control.
Up until that stage, the eighth seeded Spaniard had done her best to exploit Williams's lack of mobility, but a number of unforced errors and the American's greater aggression in the final stages prevented an upset.
Williams began by dropping her serve to love in the opening game, and after going down a second break to trail 4-1 she called for attention to her strapped left ankle.
Further strapping was applied at 5-2, and Williams began to look a little more positive, but Sanchez-Vicario continued to be a threat, often coming into the net and volleying winners as a tentative Williams remained on the baseline.
But the match began to turn in the top seed's favour from 3-3 in the second set, as Williams broke to love and also served out the set to love.
In the third set, Williams moved more smoothly and met the ball more positively to sweep the deciding set with some ease.
Earlier, Hingis avenged her recent defeat by Daniela Hantuchova in the final of the Indian Wells tournament by beating the sixth seeded Slovak 7-5, 6-4.
Yet, it was Hantuchova who dictated much of the play, often beating Hingis with a well-struck forehand. She forced a number of errors with her deep groundstrokes, or by stretching Hingis wide, but she also overhit the ball often enough to keep the Swiss number three seed in contention.
Although Hingis snatched an early break to lead 2-1, Hantuchova levelled at 3-3 and then earned a set point at 5-4. But Hingis escaped when the Slovak netted a backhand, and then broke to lead 6-5 and served out to love for the set.
In the second set, Hingis took a 2-1 lead on her fifth break point, and although she failed to convert another six break points for a 4-1 lead and allowed Hantuchova to level at 4-4, the 2000 champion responded by forcing a backhand error to break again for 5-4, and then safely served out for victory.