By Erik Gudris | Wednesday, April 2, 2014

 

Venus Williams kept the local fans happy as she advanced on a rough day for American players in Charleston.

Photo Credit: Corleve

Once again, Venus Williams came to the rescue for American tennis fans.

At the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, Williams was the lone winner among U.S. players competing on Wednesday. But it wasn't an easy victory for the former No. 1 against Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa.

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Williams started off falling behind an early break as she tried to rev up her power game. Things got going for her late after she broke Scheepers serving for the first set up 5-4. Finding big serves when she needed them in the next game, Williams held and then broke Scheepers again to take the set 7-5.

After receiving treatment for a foot blister, Williams started the second set trailing 0-2. Scheepers would again serve for a set at 5-4, but double faulted when down break point. With the crowd cheering on her every winner, Williams extended her lead to 6-5.

Williams, on her third match point, clinched the 7-5, 7-5 win after Scheepers hit wide during a rally.

When asked about her advice for younger players who hope to be as competitive as her, Williams said, "I think the main advice is just don't make any excuses. You know, don't make any excuses for yourself. If you didn't win the match, guess what, it's you on the court. So figure it out."

Keys, Stephens Exit Early

Williams' victory was the lone bright spot on a tough day for American hopefuls still left in the event.

No. 5 seed Sloane Stephens started off the day facing the highest ranked teenager on tour in Elina Svitolina. Stephens fell behind quickly in the opening set and never recovered as Svitolina pocketed it 6-4. Svitolina would go up an early break in the second and soon held 5-3.

Stephens stepped up her play to save a match point and force Svitolina to serve it out in the next game. The teenager did just that to secure the 6-4, 6-4 win.

While Svitolina afterwards talked about believing in herself more that she can beat the top players now, Stephens stuck to taking a long-term view about her game.

"If I play 10 more years of tennis, until I'm 31, that's a lot of tennis to be played. I could win the next Grand Slam or I could win one in six years and that would still be, you know, if I had pretty decent results and I was pretty consistent, I think that would still be pretty good. But like I said, there's a lot of tennis to be played and I'm not…like I'm in the top 20 and I'm still really young and still learning a lot about myself and things like that, so I'm not rushing to try and do anything fabulous," Stephens said.

Another young American in No. 15 seed Madison Keys tried to pull off an even bigger comeback win over Shuai Peng.

Falling behind 6-1, 5-2 to her opponent, Keys slowly started to find the range with her massive shots. Forcing a tiebreak, Keys took the second set 7-6(3). Keys, falling behind an early break in the 3rd set, rallied to 4-all. Keys soon served for the match at 6-5 only to double fault in the next game down break point.

Keys couldn't quite put it together in the tiebreak as she netted her last two shots to give Peng the 6-1, 6-7(3), 7-6(4) win.

"I mean it's more of an at least no one can say I didn't try," Keys reflected later. "I mean I fought. I gave it my all, and it wasn't like I just gave it away. I definitely made her fight and win the match."