John Lloyd likens Venus Williams to Jimmy Connors as another comeback begins: "Not chasing any records"
WTASunday, 18 June 2023 at 02:30
John Lloyd
compared Venus Williams and Jimmy Connors in terms of their love for tennis.
The former
British tennis player argued that Williams and Connors have made comebacks in
tennis because of their deep love for the sport, without pursuing any specific
records. This comes after Venus Williams' recent appearance on the tour, where
she suffered a first-round defeat at the Libema Open s-Hertogenbosch,
losing to 17-year-old Swiss player Celine Naef.
Lloyd
shared his thoughts on the Inside-in podcast of Tennis Channel, stating that
Venus' perseverance to continue on the circuit is different from her sister
Serena Williams, who aimed to become the tennis player with the most Grand Slam
titles in history. Lloyd sees Venus, at 42 years old, as a similar case to
Jimmy Connors, who continued to compete out of pure love for the sport.
"Serena,
okay you could say that she was chasing records and that may have kept her
longer than she would have normally played. Venus is not going after any
records, she just loves to play, and I love to see it. She's like Jimmy
Connors. Jimmy wasn't chasing any records," he said.
"Ken
Rosewall, getting to the finals of those tournaments at 39 or 40. The love of
that game, Venus I believe, and probably Serena too, but Venus, I see her
hitting balls till she is whatever, 80-90. She is just that sort of person who
loves hitting the ball," Lloyd added.
Former
world No. 1 Venus Williams, began her season with a victory at the ASB Classic
against Katie Volynets but then suffered a defeat to Zhu Lin in the second
round. She sustained an injury during her preparation for the Australian Open,
which forced her to take time off for recovery. However, she is now making a
comeback with her sights set on Wimbledon, a tournament she has won five times
(2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008).
Her next
appearance will be on Monday when she faces Italian player Camila Giorgi in the
first round of the Birmingham Classic.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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