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The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Tennis-Venus Williams prioritising fun as she returns after 16-month absence
FILE PHOTO: Mar 19, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Venus Williams (USA) serves against Diana Shnaider (not pictured) on day two of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo (Reuters) -Former world number one Venus Williams said she was embracing the challenge and joy of tennis after a difficult year marked by health concerns and time away from the court as the 45-year-old prepares for her return at the Washington Open on Monday. The seven-time Grand Slam champion declined wildcard entries into the tournament in the nation's capital in the past but said she felt up to the challenge this year. "Most of the time I don't (take up the offer to play as a wildcard)," she said with a laugh on Sunday. "But this time I had been hitting the ball. And of course I love the game and the hard courts, it's my favourite surface, what I feel comfortable on. So all those different factors." Williams is setting new personal goals, prioritising enjoyment over results. "My personal goal is to have fun and enjoy the moment, not put too much pressure on myself," she said. "I don't know if I define success at this moment in any sort of way other than believing in myself and sticking to my process. That's not easy to do, especially after a layoff. So those are my goals." Williams has won the Wimbledon singles title five times and the U.S. Open twice, as well as 14 Grand Slam women's doubles titles alongside her younger sister Serena. She has not competed since the Miami Open in March 2024 and has not won a match since defeating Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in the first round of the Cincinnati Open in August 2023. She faces fellow American Peyton Stearns in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament on Monday. Reflecting on her future in the sport, she remained characteristically private. "I think I know what I want to do, but I don't always want to talk about it," she said. "I'm just here for now, and who knows? Maybe there's more. Like I said, I hold my cards close, but at the moment, I'm focused just on this." Williams also opened up about her health struggles including her surgery last year to remove fibroids - painful but benign tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus. "My health journey was very scary," she said. "You know, this time a year ago I was preparing to go to surgery. There was no way for me to play tennis or play the U.S. Open. I was just trying to get healthy." Known for her powerful game, Williams is determined to stick to her strengths. "I'm still the same player," she said. "I'm a big hitter... This is my brand. So it's about hitting big and actually putting it in. So this will be my effort - put it in the court. That's my main goal." (Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los AngelesEditing by Toby Davis)
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Straits Times
Venus Williams prioritising fun as she returns after 16-month absence
FILE PHOTO: Mar 19, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Venus Williams (USA) serves against Diana Shnaider (not pictured) on day two of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo Former world number one Venus Williams said she was embracing the challenge and joy of tennis after a difficult year marked by health concerns and time away from the court as the 45-year-old prepares for her return at the Washington Open on Monday. The seven-time Grand Slam champion declined wildcard entries into the tournament in the nation's capital in the past but said she felt up to the challenge this year. "Most of the time I don't (take up the offer to play as a wildcard)," she said with a laugh on Sunday. "But this time I had been hitting the ball. And of course I love the game and the hard courts, it's my favourite surface, what I feel comfortable on. So all those different factors." Williams is setting new personal goals, prioritising enjoyment over results. "My personal goal is to have fun and enjoy the moment, not put too much pressure on myself," she said. "I don't know if I define success at this moment in any sort of way other than believing in myself and sticking to my process. That's not easy to do, especially after a layoff. So those are my goals." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Williams has won the Wimbledon singles title five times and the U.S. Open twice, as well as 14 Grand Slam women's doubles titles alongside her younger sister Serena. She has not competed since the Miami Open in March 2024 and has not won a match since defeating Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in the first round of the Cincinnati Open in August 2023. She faces fellow American Peyton Stearns in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament on Monday. Reflecting on her future in the sport, she remained characteristically private. "I think I know what I want to do, but I don't always want to talk about it," she said. "I'm just here for now, and who knows? Maybe there's more. Like I said, I hold my cards close, but at the moment, I'm focused just on this." Williams also opened up about her health struggles including her surgery last year to remove fibroids - painful but benign tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus. "My health journey was very scary," she said. "You know, this time a year ago I was preparing to go to surgery. There was no way for me to play tennis or play the U.S. Open. I was just trying to get healthy." Known for her powerful game, Williams is determined to stick to her strengths. "I'm still the same player," she said. "I'm a big hitter... This is my brand. So it's about hitting big and actually putting it in. So this will be my effort - put it in the court. That's my main goal." REUTERS
The Star
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Iceland's Viggosdottir forced off in Euro opener due to stomach troubles
FILE PHOTO: Feb 23, 2022; Frisco, Texas, USA; USA forward Mallory Pugh (9) dribbles the ball around IceLand defender Glodis Perla Viggosdottir (4) during the first half of the 2022 She Believes Cup international soccer match at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Forgotten man Tomic earns first Tour win since 2021
FILE PHOTO: Aug 4, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Bernard Tomic of Australia reacts after defeating Marc Polmans of Australia (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo REUTERS MALLORCA - Australia's forgotten bad boy Bernard Tomic earned his first ATP main draw victory since 2021 on Tuesday as he hit back from a set down to beat Rinky Hijikata at the Mallorca Open. The 32-year-old, once ranked 17th in the world but now languishing down at 248, battled to a 3-6 7-5 6-2 to set up a clash against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. Tomic's questionable attitude has attracted plenty of criticism throughout his career, often bragging about his party lifestyle and earnings and having numerous run-ins with authority over his penchant for speeding in sports cars. But he appears to be giving tennis one last throw of the dice and skipped trying to qualify for Wimbledon in preference of trying to earn some ranking points by qualifying in Mallorca and boosting his hopes of a top-100 return. Qualifying wins in Mallorca against Dutchman Jasper De Jong and Aleksandar Kovacevic, both ranked in the top 100, earned him his chance and he took it against wildcard Hijikata. It was his first main draw win since beating Yuichi Sugita in the opening round of the 2021 Australian Open. Bautista Agut, 37, will provide a stern test of Tomic's desire after the Spaniard continued his recent resurgence with a 5-7 6-3 6-2 defeat of Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Top seed Ben Shelton begins his Mallorca quest on Wednesday against fellow American Learner Tien. The 22-year-old Shelton, ranked 10 in the world, warmed up on Tuesday with a knock-about against Mallorca's former NBA star Rudy Fernandez before shooting some hoops. "It was fun, Rudy is a really nice guy, I'd never met him before," Shelton said of the former Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets player. "He's a better tennis player than I was expecting." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Tennis-Forgotten man Tomic earns first Tour win since 2021
FILE PHOTO: Aug 4, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Bernard Tomic of Australia reacts after defeating Marc Polmans of Australia (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo MALLORCA (Reuters) -Australia's forgotten bad boy Bernard Tomic earned his first ATP main draw victory since 2021 on Tuesday as he hit back from a set down to beat Rinky Hijikata at the Mallorca Open. The 32-year-old, once ranked 17th in the world but now languishing down at 248, battled to a 3-6 7-5 6-2 to set up a clash against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. Tomic's questionable attitude has attracted plenty of criticism throughout his career, often bragging about his party lifestyle and earnings and having numerous run-ins with authority over his penchant for speeding in sports cars. But he appears to be giving tennis one last throw of the dice and skipped trying to qualify for Wimbledon in preference of trying to earn some ranking points by qualifying in Mallorca and boosting his hopes of a top-100 return. Qualifying wins in Mallorca against Dutchman Jasper De Jong and Aleksandar Kovacevic, both ranked in the top 100, earned him his chance and he took it against wildcard Hijikata. It was his first main draw win since beating Yuichi Sugita in the opening round of the 2021 Australian Open. Bautista Agut, 37, will provide a stern test of Tomic's desire after the Spaniard continued his recent resurgence with a 5-7 6-3 6-2 defeat of Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Top seed Ben Shelton begins his Mallorca quest on Wednesday against fellow American Learner Tien. The 22-year-old Shelton, ranked 10 in the world, warmed up on Tuesday with a knock-about against Mallorca's former NBA star Rudy Fernandez before shooting some hoops. "It was fun, Rudy is a really nice guy, I'd never met him before," Shelton said of the former Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets player. "He's a better tennis player than I was expecting." (Reporting by Martyn HermanEditing by Christian Radnedge)
