Wimbledon Tennis Women's and Men's Singles Results - Venus Williams and Roger Federer

Published 08 July 07 02:40 PM | scoutmom

 At least one person believed Venus Williams - ranked 31st at the start of Wimbledon - believed she could win the women's singles.  Venus Williams herself.  "  I was really motiviated beause no one picked me to win.  They didn't even say, 'She can't win.'  They weren't even talking about me," said Williams.  

Even though she was ranked No. 1 in 2002, just wasn't looked at as a true, serious contender this year.  But she never doubted herself.  Not even after missing time wih a wrist injury.  It took a lot of hard work to make it, nearly being eliminated in the first round by a 59th-ranked teen.  Venus made sure that didn't happen.  Along the way, she played her last four matches without a break, beating No. 2 Maria Sharapova (4th round), No. 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova (quarterfinals), No. 6 Ana Ivanovic (semifinals) ultimately facing Marion Bartoli of France in the finals.  She got better as the matches progressed.  In the end, she was 27-9 in winning points and won 13 of the 18 points that lasted at least 10 strokes.  

"I know how to face this surface.  If there's a surface to pick, grass at Wimbledon's not a bad choice."  In winning, she is the first woman to receive the same paycheck as the men's champion.

Speaking of the men's champion...

Roger Federer won his fifth straight title at Wimbledon - the first to do so since Bjorn Borg from 1976-80.  And, just like Borg, he collapsed to his knees after hitting an overhead smash to beat his arch-rival Rafael Nadal of Spain.  Borg was watching the match from the Royal Box with other past champions.  After leaving the court, Borg and Federer exchanged hugs.   "Thank you for coming out," Federer told Borg.  "Not at all. Sure." was Borg's reply.

Federer beat Nadal for only the fifth time in 13 meetings. The past two French Open finals, the Spaniard has defeated Federer, spoiling his chance to complete a career Grand Slam.

"Today was a little bit disappointing because I had good chances," said Nadal, who also lost to Federer in last year's final. "Tomorrow I will be happy about my tournament and about my game."

"It was such a close match," Federer said. "I told Rafa at the net he deserved it as well. I'm the lucky one today."

Filed under:

Comments

# fleur_de_lis said on July 9, 2007 10:24 AM:

                                               .

                )-                   |                 -(

(My interpretation of a tennis match!)

# Fluffy Cow said on July 9, 2007 11:00 AM:

Bartoli beating Henin was the match to watch of the ladies, and the men's final was incredible!  I have to hand it to Federer for donning the pants and coat to receive the trophy. Very classy.

# scoutmom said on July 9, 2007 01:39 PM:

Fleur - LOVE your interpretation!!!

And you're right, fluffy, Federer is a class act.  That in and of itself stands out in today's world of self-centered jocks (or is that jerks?)