"She can be in the top 10 or perhaps No. 1 or maybe win a Grand Slam": Venus Williams in awe of Greet Minnen after US Open thrashing
WTA
The former world number one Venus Willams has heaped praise
on Belgium’s tennis star Greet Minnen after their meeting in the US Open first round.
The 43-year-old suffered a thumping defeat in her opening
round fixture of the fourth and final Grand Slam of 2023 against the
26-year-old in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-1.
Venus, while talking to the media after the match, heaped
praise on her opponent and stated that she has the ability to be in the top 10 women players in the world.
“I don’t think I played badly,” she said. “I think it was
just one of those days where it’s just unlucky. I really have to give credit to
her. It was just incredible, honestly. I mean, if she can play like that, you
imagine that she can be in the top 10 or perhaps No. 1 or maybe win a Grand
Slam, something like that, if she can play at this level.”
Those words will be a major boost for the current world
number 62 who does not have a great record while playing at the Grand Slams.
She has still not won a single WTA title in her career.
With the win on Tuesday, Minnen has now qualified for the
second round of the US Open. Her best outing was playing in the third round of
the mega-event back in 2021 where she was knocked out after losing to Canada’s Bianca
Andreescu in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2.
The Turnhout-born is now set to face America’s Sachia Vickery
in the second round of the competition on Thursday.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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