"She's encouraging me to rise to be my best": Venus Williams got text from sister Serena Williams after first top 20 win in four years

Tuesday, 15 August 2023 at 21:30

Venus Williams stretching before playing her first round match at the 2024 Cincinnati Open

Venus Williams spoke about the support of her sister Serena Williams after her victory over Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati Open.

The 43-year-old athlete marked a remarkable day, achieving her best performance in several years by defeating the world No. 16 with a score of 6-4, 7-5. This win stands as her first against a top-20 player in the past four years.

The last time she achieved this feat was against Kiki Bertens, who is currently retired. This victory also took place at the Cincinnati Open, a tournament in which the Dutch player was the defending champion.

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During her match against Kudermetova, Venus Williams found herself trailing 4-1 in the first set. However, she mounted an impressive comeback by securing five consecutive games, ultimately taking the set 6-4.

The second set also presented a challenging scenario, with Williams facing a 5-1 deficit and having to save two set points. Yet, Venus exhibited her resilience once again, managing to secure six consecutive games to claim the deciding set 7-5.

In the post-match press conference, the 7-time Grand Slam champion fondly recalled her younger sister Serena and shared that she had sent her a message shortly after her triumph:

“She texted me after. She had a lot of encouraging words to say. She just is encouraging me to, you know, just to rise to be my best, because she believes in me and she knows what I have inside of me,” former world No. 1 said.

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“It's nice to have obviously her, because she knows and she knows what position I'm in and what it's like to be in this position. She knows what it's like to have something to give, but, like, you just need that opportunity. So, it's nice that she believes in me,” she added.

Williams' victory marks her third win of the season, accompanied by five losses. Earlier this year, she secured a triumph in the first round of the ASB Classic against Katie Volynets. During the grass-court season, she added a significant victory over the Italian Camila Giorgi at the Birmingham Open.

Moving into the second round, she will be facing the winner of the match between the young Chinese player Qinwen Zheng and the Belarusian qualifier Alliaksandraaa Sasnovich.

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Venus Williams says Serena texted her after 1st top 20 win in 4 years: “She’s encouraging me to rise to be my best, bc she knows what I have inside of me. She knows what position I’m in. She knows what it's like to have something to give, but you just need that opportunity” ❤️

5:45 AM · Aug 15, 2023

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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.

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