Williams Sisters Have Outlasted Their Critics

By Liz Clarke

The Washington Post

July 04, 2009

WIMBLEDON, England, July 3 -- They have all moved on -- Steffi Graf, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Martina Hingis and Justine Henin.

Each was No. 1 in the world at one point. And each competed when Venus and Serena Williams started their march up the rankings in the mid-1990s.

These were the women with a laser-like focus on tennis, it seemed, while the Williams sisters were perceived from the start as less committed.

Reared in Compton, Calif., the Williamses weren't groomed in the traditional meat-grinder of junior tennis. They didn't enter every tournament as pros but took breaks from the year-round slog to tend to injuries or indulge other pursuits, such as acting, writing, fashion and interior design.

Even their own father, Richard Williams, predicted they'd be done with the sport by 25 and on to something else.

But Saturday at the All England Club, Venus and Serena Williams -- now 29 and 27 respectively -- will meet in the finals of Wimbledon for a fourth time, having vanquished 126 challengers for the privilege and surrendering only one set between them in the process.

The fact that they're still competing at Wimbledon (for Venus, a 13th time; for Serena, the 10th) is remarkable in itself. But the fact that they remain without peer -- at least on grass -- is difficult to grasp.

Their longevity it is a testament, to be sure, to rare athleticism and intense training.

But it also is a testament to their restraint in scheduling their competitive calendar, which was widely criticized not long ago but looks increasingly shrewd with each passing year.

'The mastermind of it all -- the blueprint that could be followed -- is what Richard Williams did,' said Pam Shriver, who competed on the women's tour for 18 years and has returned to Wimbledon as a commentator for ESPN.

'He de-emphasized over-scheduling. He emphasized having well-rounded lives and some diversity in your upbringing, as far as activity and interests. And he stressed taking breaks from the game.'

U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe, who has witnessed generations of tennis hopefuls emerge and fade, agrees.

'Everybody was saying, 'They've got other interests! How long will they stay in tennis?' ' McEnroe recalled. 'But here they are, at 27 and 29. They're not as burned out as much as maybe the others.'

The key, Venus suggested earlier this week, has been listening to her body rather than conventional wisdom.

That's not easy for exceptionally gifted athletes, particularly those pushed up the rankings by over-zealous parents, agents and tournament officials.

'You have to find that happy medium of definitely being part of a business plan that works and also doing what's best for me,' said Venus, who revealed last week that she's considering competing until the 2016 Olympics, when she would be 36, if Chicago is chosen to host the Games.

'Historically I think most players like to play a little more than I do,' Venus added. 'But, you know, historically I'd like to hang around in my career a little longer, too. I really do try to make my commitments, but I also try to do what's best for me.'

It was impossible to argue with that philosophy while watching the sisters advance to Saturday's Wimbledon final, crushing every woman across the net (only Elena Dementieva proved a worthy opponent, forcing Serena to three sets).

It was also impossible not to be reminded that Wimbledon is without its defending men's champion, Rafael Nadal, 23, who was forced to pull out on the eve of the tournament because of a flare-up of tendinitis in his knees.

Many believe Nadal's grueling schedule, and the pounding that his punishing style of play exacts on his joints, is partly responsible.

McEnroe, for one, hopes Nadal will take a cue from the Williams sisters' approach. Athletes with exceptional physical gifts can afford to pace themselves, he believes -- particularly when they're blessed with that rare ability often found among champions to switch on their competitive fire when it's needed most.

'[The Williamses] pick their spots,' McEnroe said. 'That's something that someone like Nadal is going to have to do, for instance: To say, 'I can't play every tournament,' and 'I can't practice at 100 percent every single time I go out there. I've got to save it.' '

Added fellow American Andy Roddick, who'll face five-time champion Roger Federer in Sunday's final for a third time: 'I don't know how many times people have closed the door on [the Williamses.] But they're still here and still kind of making Wimbledon theirs in a way. It's pretty cool to see.'

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