by Pete Bodo
How could a season that began with so much promise end on such a dismal note? That's the question Venus Williams must be asking herself tonight after deciding to pull the plug on 2010, despite being ranked a lofty No. 3, with the WTA Tour Championships and a choice Fed Cup final still to come? The answer to that question is that a 30-year-old with high mileage can no longer count on either physical invulnerability or powers of recovery.
Williams made the announcement through the Associated Press on Wednesday, citing the ongoing troubles caused by a sprained left kneecap, and it guaranteed that she will have logged exactly one tournament appearance in the last six months of 2010—in typical Williams fashion, it was at a Grand Slam event, the U.S. Open. She played her way to the semifinals before falling to the superior firepower of eventual champion Kim Clijsters.
Venus began the year on a tear, and by the spring, pundits were speculating that, given her habitual prowess at Wimbledon, Williams might very well finish as the year-end No. 1 for—surprise!—the only time in her career. How many other seven-time Grand Slam champions have failed to finish a season ranked No. 1? Venus earned the top ranking in February of 2002, but was unable to hold it until the computer shut down for the year, finishing a close No. 2. I trust y'all can guess who edged her out: Serena.
This year, Venus sprinted out of the gate despite a disappointing Australian Open (she was beaten in the quarterfinals). She then won 15 matches in a row (and two tournaments, Dubai and Acapulco) before Clijsters dismantled her in the final of Miami. There, Venus' left leg was swaddled in bandages, a condition of which she would only say, "I needed the support."
The injury couldn't have been critical, because she went on to play well at the most challenging time of year, the spring clay-court season in Europe. She lost to crafty Jelena Jankovic in Rome, and reached the final of Madrid, only to be upset by Aravane Rezai, a peer on a torrid streak.
While Venus' loss to Nadia Petrova in the fourth round of Roland Garros didn't qualify as shocking, her collapse against Tsvetana Pironkova, ranked No. 82 in the world, in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon was a stunning blow. She lost 6-2, 6-3. She sprained her knee shortly thereafter.
The main question looming on the horizon is how disposed Venus will be to making a full-fledged return in 2011. She'll be 31 by the time Wimbledon, where she's won five of her seven majors, rolls around. And her style can't exactly be called "easy," given that it relies on an explosive athleticism that can be especially punishing on joints like those in the shoulders, elbows, knees and ankles. Somehow, it's hard to believe that the either of the Williams sisters would ever actually, really, finally not be among us, but this raises the real possibility. The day that would never come may be here.
On the other hand...Venus is an exceptional grass-court player, and while that surface has special physical demands, it allows for short points and is easier on the joints than typical hard courts. With her massive serve, willingness to attack,and go-for-broke groundstrokes, Venus can make short work of grass-court matches—an ability that's sure to factor into her pondering of the future.
And then there's doubles. Venus is 18-1 in doubles this year with her sister Serena. They won Madrid and the French Open; their only loss came in the Wimbledon quarterfinals (to Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva). At some point, the sisters realized that most people are eager to see them playing in any way, shape, or form, and that fans particularly enjoyed watching them in relaxed mode, as teammates rather than adversaries. These women could make a good, rewarding living playing doubles, and that would also keep their visibility and market value high.
That leads to an even more intriguing issue: How will Venus' decision about 2011 affect her best friend and younger sister, Serena? Will she feel as eager to play and as comfortable with the way of life should Venus decide against a commitment to singles? Perhaps both sisters, Serena in active mode and Venus in semi-retirement, might welcome a respite from their career-long singles rivalry, which as often as not was a dampener on their strivings at major events. Although the sisters came to manage those awkward moments well, they could not have been called fun in the same way that facing—and beating—a bitter rival is agreeable.
Somehow, I get the feeling that despite the interest both Williamses have shown in extra-tennis activities, they've found a niche, calibrating their schedules and approach (who really expected them to take doubles so seriously, back in the day?) to create a balance that has kept them in the game. I don't think either of them would just throw that all away, to chase some unrelated ambition—at least not while either or both of them can be competitive, and while they can continue with a juggling act.
It would take a lot more than a sprained knee and the far side of 30 to render Venus a spent competitor. I expect, and hope, that she'll be back come January.