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By Erik Gudris | Friday, July 7, 2017

 
Venus Williams Wimbledon 2017

Venus Williams became the oldest woman to reach Wimbledon fourth round since 1994 with a straight sets win.

Photo Credit: Getty Images


20 years ago, Venus Williams made her Wimbledon debut. In the same year, Japan’s Naomi Osaka was born. Today they faced each other for the first time in an anticpated Wimbledon third round meeting.

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In the end, it was the veteran Williams who taught her younger opponent a few lessons about grass court tennis as she once again reached the fourth round at the All-England Club. With that, Williams became the oldest woman to do so since Martina Navratilova in 1994.


“Yeah, it's interesting, for sure,” Williams said when asked about the age difference. “But I guess when you walk on the court, I don't think either of us is thinking about the age. You're thinking about, How do I win? She played an amazing match today. She really played a match that was worth -- she deserved to win. But these sort of matches are always so close.”

Despite the 18-year age difference, both women played very similiar games - big serves and big groundstrokes. Osaka has said that both Williams Sisters as role models and it showed in her game. At times, both players must have felt like the other was trying to mirror their approach to winning the match.

Williams took control early with aggressive returning often aiming the ball right at Osaka. When Williams jumped out to a 4-1 lead, Osaka didn’t panic but instead calmed down and reset her game.

With better returns and sharp forehand winners, Osaka eventually leveled the set at 4-all.

As both players enjoyed love service holds, a tiebreak was soon needed to decide things. Osaka jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a series of massive outright winners on both wings. But Williams fought back with several big forehands of her own.

Williams reeled off seven straight points, including chasing down a short Osaka shot to hit a winner past her opponent at net thus sealing the set 7-6(3).

The second set showed more of the same from both women who continued to crack service winners on each side. Yet Osaka hit a few too many unforced errors throughout the match - 21 in total to just 14 from Williams.

In the seventh game, Williams seized her opportunity with great hustle from the backcourt. Williams forced Osaka, up at net, to hit one more shot. Osaka had a wide open court but instead hit her shot wide. Williams then broke serve thanks to another Osaka backhand error.

Osaka held serve later to force Williams to serve it out while up 5-4. Williams didn’t waste her opportunity on match point as she fired down her fifth ace to seal the 7-6(3) 6-4 victory.


When asked what advice she would give her younger opponent, Venus said “I don't think she needs any advice from me. I think she's good, especially from today's scoreline. She competed well.”

"Well, I mean, I sort of -- like, this is sort of a dream of mine, to play her,” Osaka said. “I can check that off my list. I actually feel like it's better that she beat me because I can learn more from her, and there's something more I can look forward to. There's more of a goal for me to practice every day and stuff.”

Williams next faces No. 27 seed Ana Konjuh in the fourth round on Monday.


 

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