Day 1 of Wimbledon was ROUGH. Last year, the first few days of Wimbledon were rough for the top seeds on the women’s side too – I think by the third round, all top-ten women players had lost. It was awful. This year, there’s at least more parity with top players and former champions going out in the first round. On the men’s side, these are the players who lost on the FIRST DAY: Alexander Zverev (#6), Stefanos Tsitsipas (7), Gael Monfils (16) and Dusan Lajovic (32), not to mention poor Grigor Dimitrov. On the women’s side, there was another bloodbath: the second-seed Naomi Osaka lost in her opening round ON CENTER COURT and afterwards, she couldn’t even get through her press conference because she was about to cry.
But the big topic of Wimbledon conversation on Day 1 was Venus Williams. Venus is a five-time Wimbledon singles champion. She’s also won the Wimbledon doubles title six times. Venus loves Wimbledon. Grass is her best surface. She was just a finalist there back in 2017. Venus is 39 years old and she played her opening round match against a 15-year-old American girl named Cori “Coco” Gauff. Coco idolizes Venus and Serena. Coco has always wanted to play one of them or both of them. And on Monday, that 15-year-old child beat Venus Williams.
I watched the match on ESPN while I was at the gym, and I was so nervous at ESPN’s dedicated coverage of it, like they were hyping the f–k out of it in the early minutes. I thought Venus was playing… okay. Not great. Venus didn’t want to run down every ball and Venus made a lot of unforced errors. It was rough. I know it’s the birth of a new star with Coco and seriously, good for her. But I’m still gutted for Venus. She was gutted for herself too. She did say that she plans to play next year so….
Q. How far do you think you can go in this tournament?
CORI GAUFF: My goal is to win it.#Wimbledon
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 1, 2019
Photos courtesy of Getty.
I mean, that must be really sucky for Venus – that’s a big loss, and Coco is SO young.
But holy hell good for Coco! She’s fifteen freaking years old! Not only did she get to play one of her tennis idols, she won. That must be an AMAZING feeling!
Venus won her first grand slam at 15. It will be a bittersweet moment of Coco wins.
Venus won her first Slam MATCH at 15, I think. She won her first Slam at 20.
Yup, I typed the wrong word. I remember reading about the Williams sisters in Tennis mag just before they went pro and I was absolutely blown away by their talent and drive. I have been a huge stan ever since.
Venus was super gracious with Coco. I’m sure she remembers being a 15 year old hotshot.
Coco said she told Venus that she was a tennis player “because of you.” I felt badly for Venus too, but it was a lovely moment. Very sporting.
Congrats to Coco!! It doesn’t feel like *that* long ago that Venus and Serena were the young new players on the circuit, beating professionals nearly twice their age.
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I think it’s past time for the Williams sisters to pass the torch. They’ve dominated for decades and their decline in recent years is marked and noticeable. It’s time to retire. Not because Serena is a mom, not because of their age (in that, I wouldn’t mention it if their playing was still at its peak). Only because their legacy can stand as-is without having a few “crappy” years at the end to sully it.
Good for Coco, and yes, the new crop of champions is coming up. However, it should be left to the Williams sisters when they want to retire. They will never lose what they already accomplished, and if they feel they have something to give to the game, they should continue to go for it. I would even argue Coco and any young champion out there would also prefer if they stayed, and they can beat them fair and square (like this time).
Oh they don’t have to retire because I said so, it’s just my opinion! And I’ll continue to watch them until they make that choice.
I dunno, Coco beating Venus “fair and square” is beating Venus past her prime (and I don’t mean that about her value as a human or a woman, I strictly mean that based on her playing stats). So sure, she’s beating 2019 Venus but could she beat 2005 Venus? We will never know. And that’s what’s sad to me- people who wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere near the Williams sisters are routinely beating them now, and they get to say they beat them even though we’re not talking about their peak.
I will be very sad when they retire.
I disagree. They’ve earned the right to finish however they choose. Martina Navratilova played well into her 40s. So did Ken Rosewall. No reason Venus can’t do the same. And Serena is younger than Federer! Let’s get through Tokyo 2020 and then see what they decide to do.
I agree both sisters aren’t in their peak, but if they’re still committed to the sport and training and are able to qualify, I’m glad they get to play as long as they want. But it’s always good seeing fresh faced talent getting these huge moments. Congrats to Coco!
I hope this poised young lady walks away with the championship. I’m rooting for her.
Happy for Coco, but sad for Venus.
I hope Coco continues to play well.
I’m so annoyed I missed this – I didn’t tape day one while I was at work because nothing much happens day one, lol. I’m an idiot. But I think the storyline of ‘the little girls who grew up idolizing Venus & Serena are pros now and beating them’ is really lovely. I just hope Coco doesn’t get thrown into so much of a spotlight that it messes with her head. Sometimes I wonder if that’s what’s going on with Osaka.
I woukd like to see borh Venus and Serena retire. Know when to say when.
This is not a big win. Venus has been over and out for several years now.
It’s a big win fpr Coco who also made history. That’s all that matters.
Good for Coco. Pretty epic moment for someone who is still a very young girl.
Not everyone can be Martina Navratilovna (sp?). Still, what the Williams sisters have achieved is groundbreaking, if they go, early or slowly fading, it’s their right. They got absolutely nothing else to prove to anyone. Respect.
It hurts to see Venus like this. I love and admire Serena so much but Venus always had a special place in my heart. She smoothed a lot of the path for Serena and put up with some incredible shit that Serena didn’t have to deal with because Venus handled it. Venus is so beautiful and graceful; watching her is like watching a rare bird flying.
Venus has some health issues that she’s been dealing with for years. She could retire right now and live an amazing life. But she loves the game. And she’s still one of the best out there.
I know it’s small comfort now but Venus and Serena and their father, because he’s a major part of their story, can look at this current crop of amazing Black girls kicking ass on the tennis court and say WE DID THIS. That’s what pioneers do. That’s what ground-breakers do.
And today (still the first round) little fart breath Dominic Thiem lost. To an American. LOL
I guess Thiem isn’t such a hot player, huh? Did he bad mouth the American winner yet?
I guess Thiem isn’t such a hot player, huh? Did he bad mouth the American winner yet? Spoiled, whiny white male privilege. Ain’t it grand?
I’m going to celebrate every time he loses. He won’t need to whine about having to change rooms for press conferences because his will be held in a broom closet.
Serena and Andy Murray are going to play in the mixed doubles- so excited for this!