VENUS WILLIAMS AND SLOANE STEPHENS BATTLE IT OUT ON THE RED CLAY OF ROLAND GARROS

Written by: Staff on 25th May 2015

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

VENUS WILLIAMS AND SLOANE STEPHENS BATTLE IT OUT ON THE RED CLAY OF ROLAND GARROS

epa04767581 Venus Williams of the USA in action against Sloane Stephens of the USA during their first round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 25 May 2015. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT |

TWO AMERICAN’S IN PARIS TODAY’S CHERYL JONES STORY FOR 10sBalls

Venus Williams is the oldest player in the women’s draw at 2015’s Roland Garros. She is 34, going on 35. (It’s unlikely that’s the way she would actually state her age. Women just don’t do that. It’s a kid thing. Once a young lady becomes 21, birthday numbers are usually only publicized on the actual day of the event. Thirty-five is just a few weeks away for her though.) For those of us who remember the little girl with the huge game scampering about the courts, beaded hair clacking like a metronome with each step, it seems that she has been in the tennis spotlight always. She has seen many players come and go from her perch at the baseline. Even her sister has been there, waiting for a match to begin. In 2002, Serena defeated her for the title here at Roland Garros, 7-5, 6-3.

Today, in her 18th foray at Roland Garros, she faced an American. This time, it wasn’t sister Serena. (Serena’s the one who has dominated women’s tennis for more than a decade, and with that, fulfilled her father, Richard Williams’ prediction when the girls were still barely into their teens, that the younger sister would be the more successful of the two.) Sloan Stephens was Venus’ opponent today.

Sloane Stephens of the USA in action against Venus Williams of the USA during their first round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 25 May 2015. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT

This is the fifth main draw appearance at Roland Garros for the twenty-two year old Stephens who has had an up and down kind of career after turning pro in 2010. In 2013, she rose to number eleven in the world late that October. Earlier that year, she was a semifinalist at the Australian Open. It was a great year for her. Last year, she finished in the top 40 for the third consecutive year. This year, her ranking has slipped a bit. She’s now stalled at 40 in the world. Her on-court performance has been disappointing at times. She has the goods to go far, but the pathway there seems to have a detour that she just cannot seem to navigate.

As with many players, Stephens has had a few different coaches working with her; trying to guide her performances. Recently, after spending some time coach-less, she has reconnected with Nick Saviano and he was watching from the stands today, likely taking notes – at least mental ones. Direction seems to be lacking in Stephens’ game and often, she has looked lost, but incapable of asking for that arrow pointing the way. Saviano has always been her trusted advisor and perhaps he can scout a way to point her in the proper direction.

It was nearly seven in the evening when the two women eventually took to Court Suzanne Lenglen. It was a sure thing that both of them were anxiously awaiting the completion of the men’s match that went on for hours. (Gael Monfils eventually defeated his countryman Edouard Roger-Vasselin, 6-2, 6-7, 6-1, 7-5.) Both women looked collected and ready to play to a sparsely occupied stadium that honors one of the greatest women players of all time – Suzanne Lenglen, who won 81 career titles beginning when she was only 14 years old. (It would be virtually impossible for anyone today to match that illustrious career. She died very young, at a mere 39 years of age; but tennis remembers her as one of the greatest players of all time. The stadium was constructed and dedicated to honor her greatness in 1994.)

Saviano seems to have provided a glowing torch to help guide Stephens. She won. Venus will not be the oldest contestant in this tourney tomorrow. The first set of the match was a trade off. Stephens pulled it out in the Tie-Break. The second set was all Stephens. She outscored Venus 71 to 54 ending the match at 7-6, 6-1.

Venus Williams of the USA in action against Sloane Stephens of the USA during their first round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 25 May 2015. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT

Venus has had health issues that have slowed her down drastically. She was diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome in 2011 and has lost some of the sparkle that she always had, both on the court and in her visage. It is an autoimmune disease that saps one’s energy. She has worked hard to allay some of the symptoms by switching to somewhat of a vegan diet. Today just wasn’t her day and with that it will be interesting to see how long she will continue her professional career once she turns 35.

Stephens may be ready to jump back on the escalator going up. A few more days might provide an answer. After the match, she spoke about the influence of her “new” coach. The Saviano magic might be just the ticket to her future success. Her quickness on the court was impressive. Her winning ways may be in for a lift. Today could be the first steppingstone toward a new direction with a brighter light to guide her toward a future where she can follow her dreams.

Topics: 2015 French Open, Paris, Roland Garros, Sloane Stephens, Tennis News, Venus Williams, Wta

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10sBalls_com says:

May 25, 2015 at 2:20 pm

-@Venuseswilliams AND @sloanetweets BATTLE IT OUT ON THE #RedClay OF @rolandgarros – http://t.co/v3fAMVArmT #VenusWilliams #RG15 #FrenchOpen