[CanIGetAWhat]

Thursday 14 February 2:21 AM

Venus says Clijsters, Henin could be number one
By Katie Nguyen

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - World number two Venus Williams has praised the talents of Belgium's Justine Henin and Kim
Clijsters and predicted they could one day top the women's tennis rankings.

"Justine is really talented. She has a formidable stroke which allows her to use the racket in a way I can't," Williams said,
describing the famed Henin backhand in an interview with La Derniere Heure newspaper.

"As for Kim Clijsters, she's very solid. She's not afraid of anything. Both of them have the undeniable potential to become
number one in the world," she added.

"It's pretty incredible that a small country like Belgium could produce two such talented players."

The American came to Belgium after winning the Paris Open on Sunday when Yugoslav Jelena Dokic pulled out of the final
due to a thigh injury.

She stepped in at the last minute after younger sister Serena withdrew from this week's Antwerp Open with an ankle injury.

Clijsters, Belgium's number one tennis player, was also forced to pull out with a stress fracture to her right arm.

TOP RANKING

If she continues in her current vein of form, Venus, who takes on Russia's Anna Kournikova in the second round of the
$585,000 tournament, could get a chance to claim number one ranking for the first time in her career, edging out fellow
American Jennifer Capriati, who is currently top of the rankings.

"To become number one in two weeks' time would be a wonderful thing, but I would also like to boost my trophy count with
new Grand Slam titles," she said.

The field in Antwerp had better be braced as the athletic 22-year-old, who has four Grand Slams under her belt, warned she
hates losing any match.

"Wherever I go on court I want to win. I know it's not always possible, but I can't bear losing," she said.

But giving up her top ranking in the future to younger stars like Clijsters or Henin is something she said she is resigned to.

"I have to be careful, all the more because they are young and have their futures ahead of them."

"I'm old. I'm getting arthritis. Soon, I'll have to wear glasses," she joked.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Venus is very classy and gracious

 

[Fingon]

Yes, very nice from Venus to recognize other player's talent, and specially to recognize that they could eventually beat her.

I know Venus has a lot of respect for Justine's game since they played each other in Berlin last year, Venus said Justine would be # 1 if she kept playing like she did there.

In Wimbledon, Venus carefully avoided Justine's backhand and when Justine played Serena at the US Open, Venus was giving Serena advice on how to play her, which shows that Venus has a great deal of respect for her. Very different to when Venus played Barbara Schwartz and knew nothing about her, but I guess that's what the experience teaches.

About Kim, well, where she is speaks for itself, she is strong, has talent, it's very fast, and very mentally strong, she doesn't have a killer shot like Justine's backhand or Justine's touch at the net, but she can generate a lot more power and her mental strenght is well above Justine's.

 

[Monica_Rules]

[email protected] the athritis thing and the glasses!

 

[LucasArg]

I love her interviews

 

[TeeRexx]

Poor, old, squinty eyed, arthritic VENUS. I don't know how she manages to dominate these other world class players.

 

[Volcana]

She's also right about their respective ages. They are both several years younger than Venus, and both have a lot to learn about tennis. In other words, Kim and Justine are almost guaranteed to improve.

It's getting VERY crowded at the top.

 

[Aci79]

Nice!

Well... players like Venus, Serena and Martina are fairly young themselves.
They should be around for a little while if they wanted to.

I'm not sure if they are ready to give up their top spots yet..

Even the older players are still very competitive.

It should be quite interesting.

 

[Kart]

Nice words from Venus, but I'm coming to expect that from her these days

 

[i_like_tennis]

U GOT THAT RIGHT.....
have a nice recovery Venus.

 

[selesrules]

Now that Venus is almost out of the top 5 and getting her ass kicked, she's starting to act humble towards the new top players, that way maybe they will have mercy on her.

 

[Knizzle]

Now that Venus is almost out of the top 5 and getting her ass kicked, she's starting to act humble towards the new top players, that way maybe they will have mercy on her.

Surely you know the date of that article.

 

[bandabou]

Now that Venus is almost out of the top 5 and getting her ass kicked, she's starting to act humble towards the new top players, that way maybe they will have mercy on her.

:lol: :lol: ! Do u really think that?! Everybody knows that after Serena there´s only one: Venus!!

 

[villa]

selesrules venus made these comments when she was holding 2 granslams and was about to be no.1!! but you already knew that right??

 

[Cybelle Darkholme]

Surely you know the date of that article.

Surely you know that selesrules is the boards number one idiot? :lol:

 

[Mrs. Peel]

Selesrules...never fails to entertain us with his stupidity!

 

[Venus Forever]

i_like_tennis strikes again, and fools another poster. :lol:

 

[Volcana]

Now that Venus is almost out of the top 5 and getting her ass kicked, she's starting to act humble towards the new top players, that way maybe they will have mercy on her.

We are patiently waiting for you to say something coherent.

 

[Cybelle Darkholme]

We are patiently waiting for you to say something coherent.

That will never happen. I hope you brought something to read while you wait... like the whole national public library.

 

[Dawn Marie]

What a an udder and complete dumbass.

 

[Cybelle Darkholme]

Its also funny how the haters stay away from any thread that paints venus or serena in a positive light and reveals their true character not the distorted and warped view that the haters thrive on.