Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams was bounced out in the opening round of the grasscourt Slam event by Russia’s Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3 at the All England Club. This is the worst defeat by the American since her debut in this event 15 years ago.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion is currently ranked 58th in the world and has been struggling since diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She lost the first five games in the first set before winning one herself to avoid a shutout. In the second set, the American had the chance to turn things around but failed.
“I come into tournaments with a positive attitude,” Williams said.
“I don’t really feel like talking about my health now. It is what it is. I’m just a couple of months into getting back on tour. Life is challenging but I’m always up for a challenge,” she added.
Williams will still be competing at the All England Club, this time in doubles with younger sister Serena. The sisters are four-time champions at Wimbledon in the doubles event.
Williams has reached the Wimbledon final eight times in the past twelve years, winning five and losing three of them to younger sister Serena.
