Venus Williams takes high road while addressing ESPN commentator
MELBOURNE — If there’s something that can be relied on with Venus Williams it’s that she normally chooses to stay above the fray and that's just how she classily behaved on Friday.
In the second-round match she won over Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele on Wednesday, ESPN commentator Doug Adler was discussing her style of play and uttered what came across to many as a controversial description. Adler, who later on apologized for any confusion, actually said his statement was she was bringing on “the guerilla effect,” but some listeners complained, believing his comment had the politically incorrect connotation that Williams has “the gorilla effect.”
Years of experience have obviously taught Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and successful multi-millionaire, that there’s no point in worrying about what was said or what was meant. So during her press conference following a swift 6-1, 6-0 third-round win over Duan Ying-Ying of China on Friday, she shut down the whole conversation.
“It’s been a wonderful, wonderful career for me, full of positives,” said Williams, flashing a smile. “That’s what I focus on. I mean, what else can I do? It’s a beautiful life. That’s how I feel about every single thing. It’s just that simple, honestly.
“I pay attention and address situations that are noteworthy,” she added. That’s been my past record clearly.”
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With that potentially uncomfortable subject out of the way, Williams turned to the more pertinent. A former finalist here in 2003, Williams is into her fourth consecutive round-of-16 or better at the Grand Slams.
“It’s good, but never enough,” said Williams, when asked about being back into the second week of a major. “I’ve been in the fourth round before. I’ve tasted it before and it’s always a great feeling because it means, ‘Hey, I have an opportunity for the quarterfinals. That’s what I’m going to go for.’”
Not surprisingly, her opponent, German qualifier Mona Barthel, will also be on a quarterfinal quest after she upended Australian wildcard recipient Ashleigh Barty 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
The difference between these two is stark. At 36 years of age, Williams is seeded 13th and has a bevy of career singles titles to the tune of 49. In contrast, this is the 26-year-old Barthel’s best showing at a Grand Slam, and her WTA singles title tally is currently at just three trophies.
They do, however, share one commonality that surely both would prefer not to have in their history — they’ve had to overcome serious chronic illnesses. Williams was diagnosed with the immune disorder Sjogren’s Syndrome in 2011; Barthel came through a serious bout with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last year.
The 181st-ranked Barthel, a power player with stinging groundstrokes and a penchant for hitting down the line, understands she goes into the match as the underdog. But that won’t prevent her from attempting the upset.
“I played her once and she beat me really badly,” said Barthel, laughing, on the court. “I’m going to go out there and I have nothing to lose. I’ve won six matches in a row, so I’m going to go out there and go for the seventh.”
Williams, who is pursuing a graduate business degree via online studies, and owns an interior design company as well as her own clothing line, loves the math of it all, especially accounting because “it’s the language of business.” So it’s no wonder she’s viewing the next match with a logical approach.
“I’m looking forward to executing my game,” she said. “That’s all that matters at this point, is to continue to elevate myself. As the rounds continue, I need to raise my level. This is my primary focus, and nothing else.”
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