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Rohit Brijnath
Senior Correspondent
Venus not friends with Melbourne
January 22, 2009 Thursday, 08:47 PM
Rohit Brijnath looks at William's 10-year relationship with the Aussie Open.
In Melbourne TENNIS is a great game. Really. In Thursday's match, Venus won more points (89) than her Spanish opponent Carla Suarez Navarro (88). Venus hit more winners (28) than the nurse's daughter (26). Venus' fastest first serve (192km/h) was 33 km/h faster than the Michael Jordan fan's best offering (159 km/h). Venus had more breakpoints (8) than her rival (6). Venus is playing her 10th Australian Open while the 20-year-old from Barcelona is playing her first. And one last thing. Venus is nine inches taller. Still, Venus lost to Carla tonight.
Just not lucky Down Under. The crowd howled in delight. The court commentator unthinkingly kept asking Suarez Navarro questions in English when it was clear she was not fluent in that language. (Silly him). Then Venus arrived in the interview room and offered the kindest of words to her opponent. She is graceful, on court and off. (Serena is another story.) Venus said Suarez Navarro "played some really good tennis", was "super consistent", that she "took her opportunities and showed character". It was a tough loss but she wore it as well as she did the glittering ring on her finger. Maybe it's because this tournament comes in the beginning of the year, maybe it's because the surface doesn't suit her, but Venus and Melbourne just don't get along. Serena has won here thrice; Venus has never even got to the finals. Maybe she's jinxed? Naah, said Venus. "I don't believe in jinxes, or witches or warlocks". Or maybe she just didn't believe in herself enough tonight. Tags: sports, tennis 
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Hey, Luke, good pick. Put it down to tired eyes which is no excuse. Just to set the record straight, in her 10 Australian Opens, Venus has now lost in every possible round. She's lost in the first round once (2006), in the second round once (this year), in the third round once (2004), in the fourth round once (2005), in the quarter-finals four times (1998, 99, 2002, 08), in the semis once (2001) and yes, also in the final once (2003). She did not play here in 2000 and 2007. Hope the eyes didn't miss anything this time.
That's the beauty of sports! In the modern game of tennis anyone in the top 100 has a good chance of breaking through or creating upsets.
Venus did reach the finals once in 2003 where she lost to Serena.